Two critical community facilities in Marin County, California, are safeguarding residents during power outages, reducing energy costs and easing strain on the electric grid with solar and energy storage.
Credit: MCE
The Dance Palace Community and Cultural Center in Point Reyes Station and the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County in San Rafael have each installed new battery storage systems that provide backup power to the facilities. Both projects were completed with zero out of pocket costs from the organizations through $150,000 in funding from MCE’s Energy Storage Program and the Marin Community Foundation.
“I’m excited to see these two projects realized to further our community resilience and lessen dependence on the grid,” said Mary Sackett, Marin County District 1 supervisor and MCE board director. “MCE has reinvested more than $12 million into Marin County initiatives that support community members most impacted by climate change.”
Funding for the projects includes a $750,000 grant from the Marin Community Foundation, more than $1 million in MCE program incentives and over $1 million in incentives from the California Public Utilities Commission’s Self-Generation Incentive Program.
“Adding battery storage offers our community a new level of safety,” said Claire Burns, executive director of the Dance Palace. “During outages, people turn to us for information, connection and support. Thanks to our partnership with MCE and the Marin Community Foundation, we’ll be able to keep our doors open when our community needs us most.”
The Dance Palace, a nonprofit community and cultural center and emergency gathering hub for West Marin, now has a 41-kWh solar plus storage system.
“It’s remarkable what we can do as local partners when we come together with a shared vision of strengthening our communities,” said Patti D’Angelo, senior program director at the Marin Community Foundation.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County in San Rafael will now be able to maintain operations and support the thousands of people it serves each year even during power outages with its new 27-kWh battery storage system. The project installed by local nonprofit GRID Alternatives, which supports a just energy transition by providing job training to the local workforce. MCF provided additional support with a bridge loan to GRID Alternatives so the project can access reimbursable federal incentives.
“This isn’t just an ordinary facility upgrade, it’s a commitment to reinforcing our community’s ability to prepare, respond, and recover,” said Christine Paquette, CEO of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County. “This is particularly true for the children, adults and seniors we serve who are most impacted by disruptions and emergencies.”
News item from MCE
