Council discusses microgrids and coordinated energy planning for new communities

Council member Adam Stafford asked whether the planning department is incorporating long-term energy planning—such as microgrids and shared energy infrastructure—into master planning for large new communities. Planning staff said green-building standards and EV-charging requirements are already in the ordinance and that the department is working to improve referrals and coordination with utilities.

A planning staff member described a recent case in Fairmont Heights where a microgrid serving about six homes was sited in a pocket park. "A community of homes that had a microgrid station that was housed in a pocket park to provide, that microgrid power services to those homes," the staff member said, and offered to send the project report to Councilmember Stafford. Council members expressed interest in legislative or master-plan steps to encourage similar models in future planned communities.

Staff said improved coordination with utilities (including Pepco) and clearer master-plan recommendations could make targeted microgrid or shared-energy approaches more feasible for large-scale new development.