Blue Lake Rancheria, in Northern California is an area vulnerable to wildfires, tsunamis, and earthquakes.
Considering those risks, the tribe that owns the casino property has created its own solar-powered microgrid that can disconnect from the main grid and run off Tesla battery power. The installation powers six buildings, including a 55,000 sf casino and 102 hotel rooms totaling more than 140,000 sf of space.
Six core buildings could last for months on solar power, supported with backup generators during the night or on cloudy days. Blue Lake Rancheria’s microgrid could provide other mountain towns with a template for building their own.
Microgrids could help reduce the incidences of wildfires in these areas, as sparks from electric equipment have been blamed for major fires including last year’s devastating blaze in Paradise, Calif. If the utility had cut power when winds near Paradise kicked up, that deadly wildfire might never have ignited. Microgrids with backup batteries allow buildings providing vital services to remain operational if the main grid fails or is shut down.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Feb 21, 2018
FEMA document provides simplified seismic design provisions for low-hazard regions
Forty four states have areas defined as low-hazard.
Codes and Standards | Feb 20, 2018
Federal budget includes disaster mitigation provisions
Bipartisan bill encourages states to adopt latest building codes.
Codes and Standards | Feb 19, 2018
Easy access to indoor environment controls yields improved efficiency and workplace productivity
JLL/Purdue University project is developing algorithms to improve indoor comfort.
Codes and Standards | Feb 14, 2018
After Energy Star stopped certifying medical properties, a REIT developed its own certification
Welltower uses internal system to evaluate total building performance.
Codes and Standards | Feb 13, 2018
Rezoning, innovative investor enabling development of a “metroburb” in New Jersey
Indoor mixed-use “Main Street” blossoms in giant former Bell Labs building.
Codes and Standards | Feb 12, 2018
Publication provides insight into managing risk of wind-borne debris damage
Explains how models and data are used to assess the risk of structural damage.
Codes and Standards | Feb 8, 2018
EPA’s Water of the U.S. rule delayed for two years while repeal sought
Controversial Obama-era regulation may never be implemented.
Codes and Standards | Feb 5, 2018
Astrophysicist turns his skills toward identifying and predicting location of vacant buildings
Project could help Baltimore and other cities redevelop blighted properties.
Codes and Standards | Feb 5, 2018
Denver’s new green roof mandate raises implementation policies
Voter initiative left many details undecided.
Codes and Standards | Feb 2, 2018
How workplace design can position financial services companies for success
HOK report examines forces reshaping industry.