Microgrids & Resilience
1. Connecticut Creates Certified Microgrid Program
On May 2, 2025, Connecticut enacted the Power Generation and Consumption Act, establishing a statewide certified microgrid program to streamline permitting and financing for onsite generation at critical facilities such as hospitals and water treatment plants (News From The States).
The new law directs the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to create uniform standards and a single-window application process for microgrid developers (CT.gov).
By reducing regulatory friction, Connecticut aims to spur dozens of microgrid installations over the next five years, boosting local energy security and grid resilience (TRC Companies).
2. Kaiser Permanente’s 2 MW Solar + 9 MWh Microgrid in Ontario, CA
Last week, Kaiser Permanente debuted what it calls the largest hospital-based renewable microgrid in the U.S., at its Ontario Medical Center (Fierce Healthcare).
The system integrates 2 MW of rooftop solar PV, a 9 MWh non-lithium battery bank, and a 1 MW fuel cell—all tied to a smart control platform that can island seamlessly during outages (VVNG).
Under normal operation, excess solar power helps shave peak loads; in emergencies, the microgrid ran in island mode for over 48 hours during January storms without interruption to patient care (Fuel Cells Works).
3. UConn Proposes Lunar Habitat Microgrid Designs
Researchers at the University of Connecticut’s RETH Institute published a paper this week on lunar microgrid concepts to power future Moon bases under extreme temperature swings and radiation exposure (UConn Today).
Their design uses modular PV arrays, rechargeable batteries, and small nuclear RTGs (radioisotope thermoelectric generators) to ensure 24/7 operation in the two-week lunar night (LinkedIn).
While intended for space, these insights into redundant, rapid-islanding controls and extreme-environment materials are feeding back into terrestrial microgrid advances for remote communities and critical infrastructure (UConn Today).
EV Charging Infrastructure
1. 16 States & DC Sue Over NEVI Funding Freeze
On May 7, a coalition of 16 states plus the District of Columbia sued the U.S. Department of Transportation for unlawfully suspending $5 billion in NEVI (National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) formula-program funds (Reuters).
The lawsuit argues that delaying the awards violates the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s mandate to build a national fast-charging network, jeopardizing planned EV station roll-outs and future investor commitments (Business Insider).
Key plaintiffs include California, Colorado, New York, and New Jersey—states that had already co-funded hundreds of EV charger installations and risk missing climate targets without the federal match (Mountain View Voice).
2. Gravity’s 500 kW, 5-Minute Chargers in Los Angeles
Startup Gravity Technologies announced deployment of eight 500 kW DC fast-charging stations across Greater Los Angeles, delivering up to 5 minutes of charge to a 300-mile EV in ideal conditions (PR Newswire).
Each site uses vehicle-to-grid (V2G)–capable hardware, allowing fleets and local utilities to tap stored energy during peaks and emergencies, boosting both resiliency and grid services revenue (PR Newswire).
Locations include Pacific Palisades, Long Beach, and Huntington Beach, filling critical gaps in ultra-rapid charging coverage for commuters and delivery networks (The EV Report).
3. California Leads Multistate EV Charger Lawsuit
California’s attorney general officially co-led the NEVI lawsuit, emphasizing that withholding the funds impairs equity by stalling charger builds in disadvantaged communities and tribal lands (Washington Attorney General).
Governor Newsom characterized the pause as an “unlawful obstruction” that threatens both jobs and the state’s aggressive zero-emission vehicle mandates (Reuters).
Industry groups from Automakers to ChargePoint have backed the suit, warning that any delay undermines consumer confidence and investor appetite for EV infrastructure (Business Insider).
Utility Sector Trends
1. Grid Transformation & AI-Driven Platforms
Utility Dive this week highlighted that utilities must evolve into dynamic, data-driven platforms—leveraging AI and big data to balance surging demand, distributed renewables, and aging assets (Utility Dive).
The article points to real-world pilots from PG&E and Ameren where AI-based forecasting shaved 5–10% off outage restoration times and optimized battery dispatch in real time (Utility Dive).
Successful utilities are those investing in integrated operations centers, cloud-native SCADA upgrades, and stakeholder-aligned capital allocation processes now, rather than incrementally (Utility Dive).
2. Enel’s €3.5 B Share Buyback & License Renewal
Italian utility Enel announced a board-approved €3.5 billion share buyback program—set for shareholder vote May/22—to reward investors after a strong Q1 EBITDA of €5.97 billion (Reuters).
Concurrently, Enel is negotiating a 20-year extension of its distribution license in Italy, ensuring regulatory stability for long-term grid investments (Reuters).
Management signaled that freed-up capital from debt reduction will fund both the buyback and network modernization—key for integrating microgrids and DERs (Energy News).
3. Castillo Engineering’s $2.5 M Market Expansion
Castillo Engineering announced a $2.5 million investment in advanced project and process management tools, plus two new VPs, to accelerate delivery of utility-scale solar and storage projects (Castillo Engineering).
The firm’s PMO 360™ platform enhancements aim to reduce engineering change orders by 20% and compress substation and interconnection timelines by up to 15% (Solar Builder Magazine).
This move underscores ongoing demand for third-party Owner’s Engineering and PM services as utilities outsource complexity to specialists like Castillo and MWC (Solar Power World).
Energy Storage & Policy
1. $100 Billion for American-Made Grid Batteries
On April 29, the American Clean Power Association announced a historic $100 billion commitment—over the next five years—to build and procure American-made grid batteries, creating 350,000 jobs (ACP).
This pledge covers capital for new U.S. battery factories and procurement commitments, aiming to meet 100% of domestic energy storage project demand by 2030 (Utility Dive).
The industry stressed that streamlined permitting, stable tax policy, and predictable trade rules (e.g., Canada-U.S. battery materials agreements) are critical to fulfilling this vision (Reuters).
2. 97 GW of Solar & Storage Additions Forecast for 2025
Carbon Credits Ltd. projects that the U.S. will install 97 GW of combined solar PV and battery storage capacity in 2025—an unprecedented yearly build that doubles 2024’s pace (Factor This™).
This growth is driven by municipal resilience grants, corporate RE100 commitments, and the expanded microgrid controller tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (Canary Media).
3. Tariff & Tax Credit Uncertainty
Morgan Lewis recently flagged that pending steel and battery tariffs plus scheduled step-downs of certain IRA tax credits could tighten margins on upcoming storage projects through 2026 (News From The States).
However, the broader trend remains bullish: policies like FERC Order 2222 explained and state resilience grants ensure that storage and microgrids remain financially compelling, even amid policy shifts (News From The States).
Bottom Line: Across microgrids, EV charging, utilities, and storage, this week’s news underscores accelerating momentum—and the critical need for expert project management, owner’s engineering, and resilience strategy. If you’d like to explore how Mountain West Consulting can help you capitalize on these developments, let’s connect.
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