SAN DIEGO, CA – The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians (SPBMI) held a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate and commemorate the commissioning of the recently completed SPBMI Tribal Government Complex Microgrid in Valley Center, CA.
SPBMI, in partnership with Industria Power, built and launched the microgrid. The microgrid project is an integrated renewable energy system that maintains resilient energy supplies for critical government facilities, including the San Pasqual tribal hall, law enforcement, fire department, housing services, and education buildings that serve as community shelters.
The tribe developed the project to support the objectives of its Energy and Resiliency Plan, including improving energy independence and resilience, achieving zero net energy consumption, reducing energy costs, and reducing the tribe’s environmental footprint.
The microgrid includes a new 156.25 kW solar parking canopy and a 240 kW/480 kWh battery energy storage system (BESS), while also integrating two smaller rooftop solar systems that previously existed at the site. With microgrid controls provided by Gridscape Solutions, the system will supply solar energy to serve San Pasqual’s electricity needs during the daytime, storing excess generation for use during peak-pricing periods, and providing reserve power for resilience against utility outages including Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).
During a grid power outage, the microgrid enters islanded mode and powers the entire site from the combination of solar production and energy stored in the batteries. San Pasqual also plans to integrate a new liquefied petroleum-fueled generator into the system in the near future, providing even greater protection against long-duration outages.
