Last month, the Town of Ridgway and San Miguel Power Association (SMPA) welcomed the public to a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of Ridgway’s first Microgrid for Community Resilience project. The new system provides backup solar and battery power to the Space to Create Decker Room, enabling the space to serve as a Resilience Hub—a community shelter where residents can gather during utility outages, stay warm, charge devices, and access the internet to stay informed.

The project was made possible through a Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Microgrid for Community Resilience (MCR) grant, with SMPA securing up to $46,900 in funding on behalf of the Town. Alternative Power Enterprise (APE) designed and installed the system, which includes a 4.8 kW solar array and battery storage capable of powering the Decker Room for up to 1.5 days.

“This project is an innovative step toward local energy resilience,” said Val Szwarc, SMPA Director, representing the Ridgway area. In addition to serving residents in times of need, the Decker Room Resilience Hub also offsets the facility’s annual energy use with solar generation, extending the benefits of clean, sustainable power.