How New Battery Capacity Helped California Avoid Another Blackout

Develop a comprehensive maintenance and training program for local government employees at facilities with backup generators to ensure proper placement, hook-up and function during hazard events. Encourage utility companies to harden energy infrastructure systems (e.g., poles, lines) against damage from climate-related effects and expand redundancy in the energy network. Support the study and development of microgrid infrastructure systems to enhance power quality, reliability and resilience for facilities during grid outages and under normal conditions. Advocate for more renewable energy sources at state level Work with utility companies to increase the amount of electricity from renewable sources to improve air quality, diversify power sources and increase the resilience of the power grid. Maintain hydroelectric generating capacity as feasible Purchase backup generators for the water infrastructure system to provide a sustained minimal level of water services in the event of a catastrophic power loss. Minimize stress on the electrical grid Build electricity grid resilience by increasing system capacity, increasing tension in lines to reduce sag and adding external coolers to transformers. Lines and transformers may overheat and trip off Increase adoption of distributed energy resources such as solar and wind by lowering financial and regulatory barriers to permitting and development. When installed with battery backup or emergency power Beyond strengthening existing systems, increase system redundancy to protect critical infrastructure from power outages. Encourage utilities to include climate change scenarios in energy load forecasting and in the Integrated Resource Plan. Evaluate the potential effects of these changes in demand on revenue. For example, Encourage residents to avoid unnecessary energy use at peak times during extreme hot or extreme cold temperatures. Launch or expand combined solar and energy storage pilots to build power grid resilience during extreme weather. Test new technologies, materials and tools to increase preparedness for power outages during extreme weather. For example, test various means of backup power to protect traffic-control facilities, including Accelerate adoption of distributed renewable energy systems, electrification and microgrids. Include increasing temperature in the design calculation for maximum temperature /rating Require the use of solar power and battery storage – either on individual units or as a community installation – on new affordable housing developments to help residents reduce energy bills as extreme Develop an educational campaign that encourages residents to weatherize their homes. Doing so will reduce heating and cooling bills, especially as high temperature days and nights become more common. Partner with local energy utilities to study the long-term effects of warmer summer temperatures and extreme high temperatures on summer load peaks and changes in residential air conditioning use in the Work with utility companies to increase energy sources that do not depend on water. Reduce consumption of electricity and fuel and increase renewable energy capacity to increase regional resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and Ensure backup power is available at facilities that serve vulnerable populations. Browse all strategies