State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

The birth of a resilient microgrid: Hoboken’s journey

American City and County: In October 2012, Superstorm Sandy ravaged Hoboken, N.J., bringing floodwaters that damaged critical infrastructure and left 90 percent of the city without power for nearly two weeks.

To avoid future catastrophes from another natural disaster, Mayor Dawn Zimmer began planning a self-contained microgrid for the city, with the aim of improving energy availability, reducing pressure on the main power grid during peak hours and increasing the use of renewable power sources. Funded in part by a technical assistance grant from the Department of Energy, the city tapped Sandia National Labs to begin the initial analysis for the microgrid project. The resulting analysis identified 55 buildings – including police stations, fire departments, pharmacies, senior facilities and low-income housing – that needed critical back-up power through a microgrid.

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