Power Ready program

A CPA partner community benefit program that provides clean energy back-up power systems on-site for critical community buildings.

What is the Power Ready program?

Power Ready provides clean energy back-up power systems to CPA’s enrolled partner communities and their selected community facilities that support critical operations and services via on-site solar and battery energy storage systems. Together, these systems function to generate and store renewable energy during normal operations. Power Ready provides resilience to power critical functions at the facilities in times of grid stress and power outages. CPA provides these systems at no upfront costs and no-direct-costs to participants. 

Power Ready Benefits

CPA assists participants throughout all stages of the Power Ready process, including:  

  • Solar and battery storage education  
  • Technical feasibility screening  
  • Site assessments   
  • Report of findings and project proposal  
  • Public solicitation  
  • Developer & engineering, procurement, and construction contract management  
  • System performance monitoring and verification 

CPA’s 2023 Power Ready RFO (Request for Offers)

Download
The Power Ready
Program
Factsheet Here.

Clean Power Alliance Power Ready Program
Frequently Asked Questions for Partner Communities
Why is CPA offering the Power Ready Program?

Power Ready is one of the many community benefits offered to CPA’s partner communities. Power Ready was created to provide resiliency solutions pursuant to CPA’s 2020 Local Program Strategic Plan. CPA helps local governments implement climate adaptation strategies to overcome power outages and climate action solutions to generate clean energy on-site and improve air quality.  

How does the program make buildings more energy resilient?

Power Ready allows facilities to install solar and battery storage systems to support critical loads. Facilities with existing back-up generators already comply with code-mandated back-up power (such as emergency lighting, elevators, and fire safety systems) and Power Ready can support additional critical loads beyond those during power outage events.  

What kinds of facilities are eligible for the program?

Facilities eligible for the program must currently provide a critical public service benefit that would be impacted from power outages and can be utilized during power outage events. Enrolled facilities in Round 1 include city halls, city services buildings, fire stations, police stations, libraries, and community centers. Partner communities can also nominate critical community sites that provide continuity of a critical public service and/or a place of refuge for the community during power outage events.  

What are the costs for participation?

CPA provides eligible program participants with technical consulting services at no cost. Enrolled participants will benefit from no upfront costs and no direct costs which means CPA will ensure that the amount paid will be equal to or less than what you would have paid if not participating in the program. The primary value participants receive is energy resilience for their buildings and ensuring continuity of critical services for the community. CPA will annually audit your energy bills so that the annual amount paid is equal to or less what your facility would pay had you not participated in the Power Ready program. 

Will a portion of the battery always be reserved for emergencies?

Yes, a portion of the battery will always reserve a minimum guaranteed amount of capacity to power critical loads during an unexpected power outage. In the event of a planned outage, the batteries will be programmed to charge up higher than the guaranteed critical energy reserve amount, when feasible. 

For more information contact:
PowerReady@cleanpoweralliance.org