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 | Oct 27, 2021
Texas reforms series of contractor laws
Measures seen as making it easier to do business in the state.
Codes and Standards | Oct 26, 2021
Drownings during Hurricane Ida point out FEMA flood map flaws
Eleven people drowned in New York City in areas marked as low risk.
Codes and Standards | Oct 26, 2021
Dept. of Energy’s REScheck tool updated for the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code
Previous version incorporated 2018 code.
Codes and Standards | Oct 20, 2021
New York City passes overhaul of construction codes
Over 600 major changes along with thousands of smaller updates slated for 2022.
Codes and Standards | Oct 20, 2021
One-quarter of U.S. critical infrastructure at risk of failure due to flooding
Police and fire stations, hospitals, airports, and wastewater treatment facilities face threat.
Codes and Standards | Oct 19, 2021
Pittsburgh enacts first-in-the-nation “Dark Sky Lighting” law
Applies to all city parks, facilities, and streetlights.
Codes and Standards | Oct 15, 2021
New Calif. law mandates use of lead-free plumbing fixtures
Must meet NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-2020 in 2023.
Codes and Standards | Oct 14, 2021
Building industry leaders urge governments to boost emissions reductions targets
Scores of large AEC firms and organizations sign letter to UN’s COP 26 group.
Codes and Standards | Oct 13, 2021
FEMA’s new flood insurance plan will sharply raise insurance costs for seaside properties
Risk Rating 2.0 will have more accurate assessment of flood risk.
Codes and Standards | Oct 12, 2021
Three new laws expected to spur more affordable housing in California
Trio of measures could aid carbon reduction in built environment.