Orlando Microgrid
- Pre-Seed
Orlando Microgrid is a pseudo-microgrid, because it won’t operate independently from the central grid, which is generated by combinations of natural gas, coal and renewable sources. The company will create an energy trading platform for members to trade power, relieving concerns about overtaxed and increasingly vulnerable centralized power grids.
Essentially creating a power distribution firm in central Florida near Disney World that sells “Mickey Watts” to poor people in the area (Disney employees mostly!) who live in a cluster and could be served by a microgrid. Among other things, they would have the ability to trade in power with one another and meter excess power onto the grid. With subsidies that obtain from the ITC, local subsidies, net metering policies and feed in tariffs, the blended retail cost of Mickey Watts could be in the range of 7cents.
The concept is that poor people should be able to have solar energy too - subsidized by Disney enthusiasts.
Girds the grid to ensure access to water and food for the most vulnerable populations of Orlando which is the poorest city of the top 20 US metros with a poverty rate approaching 20%.
Proof of concepts in place as demonstrated by the Brooklyn Microgrid and working closely with the MIT Energy Initiative to prove and scale the model.