Microsoft among members of Schneider Electric-led US resilient community energy initiative

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Microsoft, along with other major companies like Sunrock and Zurich, has joined Schneider Electric in a new initiative called the 'Accelerating Resilient Infrastructure Initiative.' This program aims to deploy community-based energy systems across the United States, focusing on innovative solutions and financing for public and private sector organizations. The initiative seeks to leverage federal incentives to quickly develop resilient energy infrastructure, such as microgrids, which are becoming increasingly important as the U.S. power grid faces reliability challenges.

With a diverse group of participants, including infrastructure providers and consulting firms, the initiative aims to reduce grid stress and lower energy costs by expanding distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar power and battery storage. As microgrids gain popularity for their ability to enhance energy resilience and provide more control over energy systems, industry leaders emphasize the urgency of developing local energy solutions to mitigate the economic impact of power outages, which costs the U.S. economy approximately $150 billion annually.