Ameresco breaks ground on $21.6M California project for U.S. Army

Photo | Grant Welker Ameresco headquarters in Framingham

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By Sam Bonacci

Clean energy company Ameresco, of Framingham, has broken ground on a $21.6 million microgrid project in Jolon, Calif.

The electrical distribution microgrid at Fort Hunter Liggett will support the goals of achieving net-zero energy by 2022 and critical mission resiliency, according to a release from Ameresco. The project will include the design and installation of a secure, islandable and autonomous microgrid with controls and interconnection for new and existing generation and storage systems at the 165,000-acre U.S. Army Reserve training center.

The new microgrid system will improve energy security for Fort Liggett by separating it from more vulnerable external systems in the event of a loss of utility grid power. It will also enable the base to only deploy as much energy as is needed thanks to the addition of the system’s 3.75-megawatt photovoltaic generation, 5-megawatt-hour batteries, and microgrid control system. Ameresco will also upgrade the existing infrastructure so that facility managers can control energy intake at various buildings at the facility.

The fort is recognized as a leader in its energy, waste, and water resiliency and sustainability programs, and has won several Army awards, according to the release.