The Grid Is Aging. Your Rooftop Can Solve More Problems Than You Might Think.

The promise of a single technology that saves money, avoids administrative headaches, and benefits the environment surely sounds too good to be true. But when it comes to the future of energy in America, that’s precisely what is available to us, and the scale of the problems that can be addressed with this technology may be even more wide-reaching than we’ve previously realized.

The New York Times recently published a story titled, “The Planet Needs Solar Power. Can We Build It Without Harming Nature?” The piece offers a detailed look at America’s natural spaces (and species) that risk being disrupted as major renewable energy projects move forward. It also explores the complex legal circumstances that virtually always surround large-scale solar projects as a result of disagreements and restrictions related to land use.

This latest analysis from the country’s newspaper of record highlights one element of what may be the greatest challenge to establishing a truly comprehensive framework for clean energy in America: our aging, inefficient energy grid. We’ve previously written about hurdles the nation faces related to the grid, and as the Inflation Reduction Act and other developments have boosted renewable energy production, it’s becoming even more evident that the grid’s limited transmission capability is a significant weakness.

It doesn’t mean much to produce a massive amount of clean, inexpensive energy if we aren’t able to deliver it to the people who would put it to use—and the current gaps in our capabilities are substantial, to say the least. A study from Princeton University found that it will require 75,000 miles of new power lines to establish a zero-carbon energy grid by 2035. As stated by Canary Media, that’s enough to stretch from Los Angeles to New York City and back 15 times.

It will require a Herculean effort to modernize and expand our energy grid. It’s also tedious, expensive work that involves navigating massive amounts of red tape, making development timelines difficult to forecast and subject to change.

None of this is to say it isn’t possible to modernize the grid. It’s essential to continue making progress, but it would be unproductive to suggest that waiting for a larger national network of wires is our only solution. This is especially true for the businesses and individuals who are ultimately consuming the energy being produced: if the only answer is an expanded grid that stretches all across the country, you’ll just have to wait around until clean power happens to reach you.

A More Sustainable Solution

Fortunately, that isn’t the case. Sources of clean, affordable energy can be established without wading deep into the technical or administrative challenges of grid expansion. That’s precisely what microgrids are designed to do.

These localized grids produce and distribute energy all in one location. While microgrids may maintain a connection to the larger grid, they’re fully capable of operating independently when necessary. In short, they provide direct access to solar energy without the endless complexities of an expanded national energy grid. This capability is compelling, and it’s exactly why Catalyst Power focuses on making this transformative technology available to you as seamlessly as possible through our Connected Microgrid? solutions.

With our team managing the installation, operation, and maintenance of a Connected Microgrid on your property, all you have to do is watch the benefits multiply: your monthly energy spending will drop, you’ll have an on-site supply of energy (and optional battery storage) that can be a crucial resource in the event of short-term power outages on the larger grid, and you’ll be demonstrating your company’s commitment to more environmentally sustainable operations.

Despite their many financial benefits, comparatively fast operational timelines, and positive environmental impact, microgrids remain underused as a clean energy technology. States nationwide have been slow to establish the proper incentive structures and approval frameworks that would allow for further growth, but new research and a greater awareness of microgrids’ role in strengthening energy resiliency will hopefully spur more widespread adoption.

Of course, there’s no need to wait for a flawless policy environment to begin accessing clean energy. Our job as Energy Experts is to navigate the behind-the-scenes details, so you can bring a Connected Microgrid to your property as easily as possible! Our solutions are currently available in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, and soon, expanding to Ohio. If you’re operating in one of those states, there’s good reason to take action with us sooner rather than later–interruptions to the U.S. power supply more than doubled between 2013 and 2021, according to data reported to the International Energy Agency.

Beyond microgrids, there are even more ways to harness the power of localized energy. If you aren’t currently making changes to your energy mix, there are still opportunities to turn a space into an opportunity for yourself and those around you. Our Rooftop Leasing program puts solar panels on your roof and we pay you monthly for leasing the space to us. You benefit financially while bringing a new, fewer-wires-needed source of clean energy to your community. We currently offer Rooftop Leasing solutions in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

A Connected Microgrid and other rooftop solar solutions can ease some of the country’s greatest energy challenges. They also deliver substantial, reliable financial benefits to your business. And they bring an immediate impact, offering even more reason to act now. Speak to one of our Energy Experts today and see how your business can stand to benefit from Catalyst Power’s solutions.