ARLINGTON – Construction is underway on the next phase of Snohomish County PUD’s Arlington Microgrid and Clean Energy Technology Center project.

Moon Construction broke ground recently on the tech center and Modular Data Center, both of which will be located on the same site as the PUD’s Community Solar array and future Arlington Microgrid east of Arlington Municipal Airport.

Construction of the center is expected to be complete this summer, with the microgrid and installation of the data center to happen shortly after. In 2021, the center will be open for customers to tour and learn more about microgrid technology and other renewable energy options.

“With the energy industry rapidly evolving, the CETC provides a great opportunity for us to educate customers on some of the new technology the PUD is exploring,” microgrid program manager Scott Gibson said. He added that it will also give PUD another tool to continue strong support for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education.

Work on the microgrid is expected to begin this summer. As the PUD’s third project to employ energy storage technology, it will couple renewable energy generated by a 500-kilowatt solar array with a lithium-ion battery storage system and a Vehicle-to-Grid charging system, providing emergency backup power to the project and a future community office.

The PUD has all contracts in place for construction of the microgrid except for the one to install the battery energy storage and microgrid control systems. The PUD will go out to bid for that contract in April, with installation to be completed by the end of the year.

Total cost of the microgrid project is $12 million. The PUD received $3.5 million from the Washington Clean Energy Fund through the state Commerce Department. Since 2013, the state has invested $152 million in that.

For more information, visit snopud.com/microgrid.