The Clean Coalition is reviewing a number of Community Microgrid configurations that incorporate combinations of these factors:
Direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) solar+storage couplings
Behind-the-meter (BTM) and wholesale distributed generation (WDG) proximities to the customer meter
Net energy metering (NEM) and Feed-In Tariff (FIT) rate tariffs
Rule 21 and wholesale distribution tariff (WDT) interconnection tariffs
The basic configurations — more details, including diagrams to illustrate the configurations, follow below:
DC-coupled BTM solar+storage, using NEM and Rule 21
AC-coupled BTM solar+storage, using NEM and Rule 21
DC-coupled BTM solar+storage, using NEM and Rule 21 & WDT
AC-coupled BTM solar+storage, using NEM and Rule 21 & WDT
DC-coupled WDG solar+storage, using FIT and WDT
AC-coupled WDG solar+storage, using FIT and WDT
WDG storage, using FIT and WDT
WDG solar, using FIT and WDT
BTM solar+storage, using NEM
A real-world example of configuration #7 is our Valencia Gardens Energy Storage (VGES) Project. This groundbreaking project, located in a disadvantaged community in the heart of San Francisco, will showcase how front-of-meter (FOM) energy storage can be effectively deployed in dense, developed urban environments. In the future, a grid isolation relay could be added to create a Community Microgrid, making VGES an example of configuration #6:
Potential long-term VGES resilience design
VGES will serve as a model that supports California’s emissions reductions goals, increases the state’s resilience and security, drives regional economic development, and lowers the cost of operating the power grid.
Configuration 1: DC-coupled BTM solar+storage, using NEM and Rule 21
Configuration 2: AC-coupled BTM solar+storage, using NEM and Rule 21
Configuration 3: DC-coupled BTM solar+storage, using NEM and Rule 21 & WDT
Configuration 4: AC-coupled BTM solar+storage, using NEM and Rule 21 & WDT
Configuration 5: DC-coupled WDG solar+storage, using FIT and WDT
Configuration 6: AC-coupled WDG solar+storage, using FIT and WDT
Configuration 7: WDG storage, using FIT and WDT
Configuration 8: WDG solar, using FIT and WDT
Configuration 9: BTM solar+storage, using NEM
Learn more
Policies and market mechanisms to support these configurations
Community Microgrid deployments face a number of policy and market barriers. We’re working to optimize the significant economic, environmental, and resilience benefits of Community Microgrids, to truly unleash these important clean energy delpoyments.
This podcast episode of Energy Central's "Power Perspectives" welcomes Craig Lewis, Founder and Executive Director of the Clean Coalition, to explore how local solar and storage can flatten the duck curve, cut costs, and build a more resilient grid.
Climate Fridays: Sustainability and Environmental Advancements in Goleta – 5 December 2025
The Clean Coalition presented during this in-person gathering, held on Friday, 5 December 2025 from 3:30–5:00 pm PST at CEC’s Environmental Hub, 1219 State St Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
