An upstate New York town that repeatedly found itself without power for days during a string of storms is planning a dramatic step — pulling its municipal buildings entirely off the electric grid.
Nassau's decision to rely on solar, wind, landfill gas and battery storage by 2020 puts it on the leading edge of a national campaign to develop "microgrids" designed to make communities more energy independent and the grid more resilient.
While only a few communities have become early adopters, proponents say there is also growing interest across the country from places looking to save money by selling excess power to utilities and to help the environment.
But development of microgrids has been slowed by technical and regulatory hurdles. There's also been a mixed response from utility companies.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
