Bronzeville Community Microgrid

ENGINEERING SERVICES: PERMITTING AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

Chicago, Illinois

The Bronzeville microgrid is interconnected to the Illinois Institute of Technology’s (IIT) microgrid. This is the first microgrid cluster in the world.

ComEd, together with IIT and other partners, received a Department of Energy (DOE) grant for $1.2 million in 2014 to build and test a microgrid master controller designed to manage two or more clustered microgrids.

ComEd, Illinois’ largest utility, also received a $4 million award from the DOE for a portion of the work on the planned microgrid in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Milhouse provided engineering services related to the permit designation and environmental analysis of the Bronzeville Community Microgrid for Phases 1 & 2, including the development of a permitting matrix.

Milhouse documented and assisted with obtaining the required permits, authorizations, clearances, and approvals required for the project.

Examples of some of the primary permits and actions are as follows:

• Hazardous Materials Handling Plan
• SPCC Plan
• Phase 1 Desktop Screen
• RCRA Permit for CESQG
• Tier II Reporting
• Noise Studies
• Air Permitting Matrix
• Air Permitting
• Building Permits/Special Use Permits for 1 Temporary Generator, 1 Battery Storage
• Facility, and 2 Generator Facilities including Public Hearings
• Chicago Stormwater Permit
• NPDES Permit & SWPPP
• Road ROW Permits/Road Entrance Permits
• Capital Equipment Transportation Permitting
• SARA Tier II Reporting
• Kickoff Meeting