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Released July 17, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Oregon is the latest state to step up its efforts to use microgrids to counter the effects of rising power-generation demand, extreme weather and other challenges. These independent, small-scale grids can shield communities from problems associated with the overall power grid, such as stressed transmission systems and rising power bills. Industrial Info is tracking about $2.75 billion worth of active and proposed microgrid projects across the U.S., including more than $1 billion worth in Oregon's neighboring states of California, Idaho, Nevada and Washington.
Click on the image at right for a graph detailing the top 10 U.S. states and territories for active and proposed microgrid projects, by total investment.
Governor Tina Kotek (D) is expected to sign two measures passed last month by the Oregon House of Representatives and Senate with broad bipartisan support, according to Utility Dive. HB 2065 aims to reduce bottlenecks to microgrid deployment through an improved approval process, while HB 2066 directs the Oregon Public Utility Commission to establish a regulatory framework for community-owned and private microgrids.
Dylan Kruse, president of nonprofit Sustainable Northwest, told Utility Dive the Oregon legislation is "the most ambitious microgrid legislation in the nation" and that it could provide a model for other Western states where grid reliability and power affordability are growing concerns. "We've seen other states take swings at pieces of this, but more in pilot form," Kruse told the site.
But many states already have received help from microgrids in handling growth from heavy energy-consuming sectors. With data centers projected to soak up much of the emerging demand for domestic energy production, some developers are opting to construct their own microgrids. They include Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Washington), which is at work on a $120 million microgrid in San Jose, California, which is designed to carry 100.8 megawatts (MW) for its proposed San Jose Data Center Campus.
The San Jose Planning Commission approved Microsoft's project in April. The initial phase will include 140 natural gas-fired standby generators and a diesel standby generator, as well as offices and a 115-kilovolt (kV) substation. Microsoft could begin work on a second-phase expansion to the data center as early as 2026. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Industrial Manufacturing Project Database can read detailed project reports on the microgrid, as well as Phase I and Phase II of the data center.
Universities also are making use of microgrids, especially those with extensive research and development facilities. Two examples are a 65-MW system addition at the University of California, Berkeley, which would include a central heating and cooling plant, and a 10-MW system addition at the University of California, Santa Cruz, which would include 8 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays and a 2-MW battery energy-storage system (BESS). Both projects currently are slated to begin in early 2026. Subscribers can read detailed reports on the Berkeley and Santa Cruz projects.
The U.S. military also finds microgrids an appealing option for its bases, where the systems could bolster security by allowing their facilities to run for multiple days, should there be a prolonged use of grid power. The U.S. Department of Defense is weighing two such proposals on the West Coast: a 2.5-MW addition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, which is just south of Tacoma, and a 7.5-MW addition at the March Air Force Reserve Base in California, east of Los Angeles. Both projects currently are estimated to begin construction in mid-2026. Subscribers can read detailed reports on the Lewis-McChord and March Air Force projects.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project and Plant databases can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.
Subscribers can click here for a full list of detailed reports for active and proposed microgrid projects across the U.S.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
Click on the image at right for a graph detailing the top 10 U.S. states and territories for active and proposed microgrid projects, by total investment.Governor Tina Kotek (D) is expected to sign two measures passed last month by the Oregon House of Representatives and Senate with broad bipartisan support, according to Utility Dive. HB 2065 aims to reduce bottlenecks to microgrid deployment through an improved approval process, while HB 2066 directs the Oregon Public Utility Commission to establish a regulatory framework for community-owned and private microgrids.
Dylan Kruse, president of nonprofit Sustainable Northwest, told Utility Dive the Oregon legislation is "the most ambitious microgrid legislation in the nation" and that it could provide a model for other Western states where grid reliability and power affordability are growing concerns. "We've seen other states take swings at pieces of this, but more in pilot form," Kruse told the site.
But many states already have received help from microgrids in handling growth from heavy energy-consuming sectors. With data centers projected to soak up much of the emerging demand for domestic energy production, some developers are opting to construct their own microgrids. They include Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Washington), which is at work on a $120 million microgrid in San Jose, California, which is designed to carry 100.8 megawatts (MW) for its proposed San Jose Data Center Campus.
The San Jose Planning Commission approved Microsoft's project in April. The initial phase will include 140 natural gas-fired standby generators and a diesel standby generator, as well as offices and a 115-kilovolt (kV) substation. Microsoft could begin work on a second-phase expansion to the data center as early as 2026. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Industrial Manufacturing Project Database can read detailed project reports on the microgrid, as well as Phase I and Phase II of the data center.
Universities also are making use of microgrids, especially those with extensive research and development facilities. Two examples are a 65-MW system addition at the University of California, Berkeley, which would include a central heating and cooling plant, and a 10-MW system addition at the University of California, Santa Cruz, which would include 8 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays and a 2-MW battery energy-storage system (BESS). Both projects currently are slated to begin in early 2026. Subscribers can read detailed reports on the Berkeley and Santa Cruz projects.
The U.S. military also finds microgrids an appealing option for its bases, where the systems could bolster security by allowing their facilities to run for multiple days, should there be a prolonged use of grid power. The U.S. Department of Defense is weighing two such proposals on the West Coast: a 2.5-MW addition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, which is just south of Tacoma, and a 7.5-MW addition at the March Air Force Reserve Base in California, east of Los Angeles. Both projects currently are estimated to begin construction in mid-2026. Subscribers can read detailed reports on the Lewis-McChord and March Air Force projects.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project and Plant databases can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.
Subscribers can click here for a full list of detailed reports for active and proposed microgrid projects across the U.S.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
