The document summarizes a community forum held in Plattsburgh, New York to discuss aspirations and concerns for a proposed microgrid. Forum participants emphasized that the microgrid should: 1) serve the community by providing power to vulnerable residents and organizations during outages; 2) utilize renewable energy sources like solar and wind whenever possible; and 3) help critical institutions like the hospital and university maintain normal operations to aid disaster response and recovery efforts. There was consensus that the microgrid could improve resiliency for the city in the event of long term power disruptions.

1. Plattsburgh Residents’Aspirations
and Concerns for A Community
Microgrid
Aaron Baltich-Schecter, Antwan Clark, Kimberly Bailey, Patrick Montouri. Faculty
mentors: Dr. Lauren Eastwood; Dr. Curt Gervich.
The Plattsburgh Microgrid Feasibility Study is a
SUNY Plattsburgh and Center for Earth and
Environmental Science led project to explore the
potential of constructing a community microgrid
among the college, Champlain Valley Physicians
Hospital, two neighborhood residential care
facilities, Plattsburgh High School and a large
apartment complex. The microgrid would provide
power to these facilities in the case of a long-term
power outage.
Figure1.Timespentdiscussing
differentthemesatthe
communityforum.
Figures 1, 2 & 3. Plattsburgh residents provided
clear messages at an energy-focused community
forum held on November 11th, 2015, at
Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital.
Emphasis on Community
Participants in the forum stressed the importance of collective,
shared action to support vulnerable Plattsburgh citizens during
emergencies such as long-term power outages. One SUNY
Plattsburgh student hoped to see the microgrid serve as a platform
for voluntary community efforts to assist residents in times of need.
For example, the microgrid could allow for meals-on-wheels services
to provide food to residents without power. Several speakers at the
forum expressed concern that the microgrid remain in public
ownership. Several participants highlighted their appreciation for the
Plattsburgh Municipal Lighting Department.
Emphasis on Renewable
Energy
Attendees at the forum stressed the importance of drawing on
renewable energy sources to power the microgrid. “Is it possible to
do geothermal?”, one resident inquired. Many participants
wondered whether solar and wind were options in the City of
Plattsburgh. Others expressed their opposition to natural gas, a
common power source for microgrids. Concerns over natural gas
ranged from its ties to hydraulic fracturing in nearby states
(hydraulic fracturing is prohibited by law in New York) to
methane’s high radiative forcing capability.
Emphasis on Resiliency
Participants in the forum recognized the importance of maintaining
normal operations at the microgrid’s partnering institutions during a
power outage. Several speakers reminisced about the 1998 Plattsburgh
Ice Storm, during which SUNY, CVPH and other community
organizations maintained power and served as the backbone of the
emergency response effort. One community member suggested that the
institutions plugged into the microgrid could provide refuge for people
without power in a long-term outage. She noted that during the 1998
storm many residents were trapped in their homes for prolonged
periods. Representatives from CVPH discussed how the microgrid could
help avoid logistical challenges at care facilities from an influx of citizens
with lost power. Officials from SUNY Plattsburgh noted that power
outages are disruptive because students may be sent home, course
curriculums may be forced to alter, and the Plattsburgh economy could
suffer. Participants at the forum voiced consensus over the microgrid’s
ability to help the city recover from the effects of long term power
outages.
17%
39%
44%
Panel/Moderator Independent Input
Total environmental
questions and comments
Total resiliency questions
and comments
Total community questions
and comments
43%
9%
39%
9%
Audience Input
Total environmental
questions and
comments
Total resiliency
questions and
comments
Total community
questions and
comments
Total 'other'
questions and
comments
Figure2.Participantsinthe
forumlistenedtopresentations
anddiscussedthemicrogrid.
Figure3Topicsraisedbymicrogrid
projectpartners.
Figure4.Topicsraisedby
communitymembersatthe
forum.