In December 2017, the month-long Thomas Fire burned over 300,000 acres and devastated parts of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The fire claimed two lives and destroyed over 1,000 structures. It also burned trees and other plants whose roots had stabilized the hillsides surrounding Montecito, an unincorporated area in southern Santa Barbara County.
On January 9, 2018, in just five minutes, half an inch of rain fell over the destabilized hillsides, resulting in a debris flow of boulders, trees, and over 15 feet of mud in some locations— traveling downhill at 20 miles per hour. The flow subsumed everything in its path, tragically taking 23 lives and completely destroying 100 homes while damaging 300 more.
Both the fire and the subsequent debris flow demonstrate the need for energy resilience in this disaster-prone region. The devastated areas lie within the Goleta Load Pocket, a region that spans 70 miles of coastline encompassing the cities of Goleta, Santa Barbara (including Montecito), and Carpinteria. Because the Goleta Load Pocket is a highly transmission-vulnerable region, this community can benefit greatly from the resilience provided by local renewables.
As the first building block of the Goleta Load Pocket Community Microgrid (GLPCM), the Clean Coalition is working with the community to stage a Community Microgrid in Montecito, starting by establishing individual microgrids at three critical community facilities. The Montecito Community Microgrid will provide an unparalleled trifecta of economic, environmental, and resilience benefits to the Montecito community.
Building back right
The Montecito Community Microgrid Initiative, the first building block in the Goleta Load Pocket Community Microgrid Initiative, provides a unique opportunity to build back right while ensuring indefinite renewables-driven energy for critical emergency response and recovery facilities. This deployment of clean local energy will showcase the grid of the future and will provide an unparalleled trifecta of economic, environmental, and resilience benefits to the community.
Image: Areas with high/extreme risk of debris flow and flooding. Source: County of Santa Barbara
Initiative objectives
Stage a Community Microgrid for implementation that begins with the Montecito Fire Protection District headquarters, expands to include the Montecito Water District headquarters, including water wells and pumping stations, and then expands further to include an array of commercial properties within the Montecito Upper Village.
Create indefinite renewables-driven energy resilience for critical Montecito Fire Protection District and Montecito Water District facilities, as well as other critical facilities within the Montecito Upper Village.
Stage a Community Microgrid in the Montecito Coast Village, which is part of the City of Santa Barbara.
Provide a near-term showcase for additional Community Microgrids throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, and beyond.
During a long-term power outage, Community Microgrids will keep the lights on and the doors open at critical and priority facilities, supporting the community. During normal operations, these clean local energy resources will also drastically reduce the carbon footprint of the community and will help advance regional, state, and global climate action goals.
Image: Montecito home destroyed by debris flow. Source: Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee for the Montecito Community Microgrid Initiative is driving this effort forward.
For information on the Steering Committee, click the link below.
A Community Microgrid is a new approach for designing and operating the electric grid, stacked with local renewables and staged for resilience.
Features:
A targeted, coordinated local grid area served by one or more distribution substations
High penetrations of local renewables and other distributed energy resources such as energy storage, demand response, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure
Indefinite renewables-driven power backup for critical and prioritized loads across the grid area
Scalable throughout a utility service territory and replicable into any utility service territory
The perfect opportunity for a comprehensive Community Microgrid
In October 2018, the Clean Coalition’s Craig Lewis and Gregory Young presented on what this opportunity could mean for Montecito and the Goleta Load Pocket.
Solar Microgrids were planned for initial deployment at these three sites in the Montecito Upper Village:
Montecito Fire Protection District (FD) headquarters and primary fire station: Houses the majority of Montecito’s fire-fighting resources
Montecito Water District (WD) headquarters and critical wells and pumps: Adjacent to the FD and operate 24×7 during fires
Montecito Union School (MUS): Half a mile from the FD/WD; already the site of the FD’s emergency helicopter operations; will serve as the primary emergency sheltering site
The Montecito Fire Protection District Solar Microgrid is expected to be online by the summer of 2022, and the solar for the Montecito Union School was completed in October 2021.
During a long-term power outage, Community Microgrids will keep these critical community facilities operational. During normal operations, the individual microgrids will provide economic benefits and drastically reduce the carbon footprint of the community while advancing regional, state, and global climate action goals.
Each site is anticipated to benefit from indefinite renewables-driven backup power for the most critical loads:
10% of the load 100% of the time
100% of the load at least 25% of the time
Potential sites
Sites listed here are pending consideration and approval.
Phase I geographic area: Montecito Upper Village
Phase I of the project involves staging a Community Microgrid for implementation in Montecito Upper Village. Potential initial sites are the Montecito Fire Protection District headquarters and the Montecito Water District headquarters (including water wells and pumping stations). The project would then expand further to include an array of commercial properties in the area. (Figure: Upper Village Community Microgrid block diagram)
Tier 1 potential sites: Critical facilities required for emergency response
Critical facilities with solar potential
Fire Protection District headquarters and station
Water District headquarters, wells, and pumping facilities (not pictured)
Tier 2 potential sites: Priority facilities for shelter and recovery
Montecito Union School
Tier 3 potential sites: Priority facilities for shelter and recovery
Pierre Lafond Market
The Village Gas Service Station
Wells Fargo Bank
United States Postel Service
Montecito Association headquarters
Upper Village emergency response and emergency sheltering clusters
Priority facilities with solar potential
Upper Village Community Microgrid block diagram
Phase II geographic area: Montecito Coast Village
In Phase II, a Community Microgrid would be staged for implementation in Montecito Coast Village. This would include priority facilities for short- and medium-term rescue, recovery, and shelter.
Tier 1 potential sites: Critical facilities required for emergency response
Von’s market solar potential
Food supply and refrigeration (Von’s)
Pharmaceutical and health supplies (CVS and Von’s)
Tier 2 potential sites: Priority facilities useful for evacuation,
shelter, recovery staging, and medium-term life-sustaining services
