Welcome to Bronzeville, a historic neighborhood on Chicago’s south side that is now home to the world’s first large utility-owned microgrid cluster. The microgrid, which serves over 1,000 residents, can reduce power outages during blackouts, lower costs for the community, and more. Operating in tandem with the city’s electric grid, the microgrid cluster keeps the power on for Bronzeville families and essential service providers when there’s a disruption in the broader area. It draws on renewable energy resources like 750 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic power and, maybe most importantly, is a case study for how bigger communities could become more resilient in a warming world.
