Schneider Electric has launched an initiative to deploy resilient, community-based energy systems rapidly across the USA.

The Accelerating Resilient Infrastructure Initiative brings together more than 20 partners to support public and private sector organisations with innovations and financing.

The goal is to help rapidly scope, finance and deploy resilient energy infrastructure, such as microgrids, while federal incentives remain available.

The initiative comes at a pivotal moment for US energy infrastructure. With federal incentives available for clean energy projects, communities have an opportunity to accelerate deployment of resilient energy infrastructure. Acting now lets organisations take advantage of existing funding mechanisms before deadlines shift.

Participants joining forces to support the initiative at launch include:

• Microsoft, bringing cloud, AI and data capabilities
• Infrastructure providers AlphaStruxure, Azzo, Celsius Energy, CDM Smith, EVerged, Mainspring Energy, Pisgah Energy, Sprocket Power, Sunrock Distributed Generation, Sustainability Partners Unison Energy, Verdant Microgrid and Viridi.
• Consulting firms Arcadis, Baringa and Viridi Edge; electrical distributor Graybar; global insurer Zurich; and the non-profit Resilient Cities Network.

Schneider Electric will connect companies with project developers and provide energy technologies.

“Communities are under increasing pressure to maintain reliable, affordable power in the face of aging infrastructure, extreme weather, rising demand and evolving cyber threats,” said Jana Gerber, North American president of microgrids for Schneider Electric. “With power outages costing the US economy an estimated $150bn each year, the need for resilient energy infrastructure has never been more urgent. This initiative brings together industry leaders to accelerate the deployment of local, future-ready energy options, helping communities reduce risk, control costs and ensure continuity of critical services.”

Darryl Willis, corporate vice president at Microsoft (www.microsoft.com), added: “The initiative is a powerful example of how industry collaboration and digital innovation can accelerate the deployment of resilient energy infrastructure at scale. By combining Schneider Electric’s expertise with Microsoft’s trusted cloud and AI technologies, we are helping communities strengthen critical infrastructure, unlock new business value and advance a more sustainable, secure and resilient energy future.”

By 2028, the US power grid is expected to reach a critical inflection point, where peak electricity supply may no longer meet peak demand, threatening grid reliability. The initiative aims to ease grid stress and curb rising energy costs by scaling distributed energy resources (DERs). These include solar panels, battery energy storage, geothermal heat pumps and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. By deploying these technologies, the initiative should help communities reduce reliance on the centrald grid, mitigate the impact of rising utility rates, strengthen energy resilience and support long-term sustainability goals.

Project developers AlphaStruxure, Azzo, EVerged, Unison Energy, Verdant Microgrid and Sunrock have identified $7.5bn in capital to finance energy resilience projects for sites such as municipal facilities, airports, campuses, hospitals, schools, seaports and water-treatment plants.

Projects can be delivered turnkey through long-term service agreements such as energy-as-a-service (EaaS) contracts. These convert upfront capital costs into predictable, recurring payments, making energy systems more accessible.

For organisations seeking to fund upgrades through operational savings, energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) offer a proven model, allowing improvements to be paid for over time using guaranteed energy savings. This approach eliminates the need for upfront investment and enables communities to reinvest savings into essential services and local priorities.

Resilience options can include Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex system and Energy Control Center, along with solar, battery storage, fuel cells or flexible-fuel generators. Digital controls and analytics connect these assets to optimise cost, resilience and sustainability.

Microgrids are localised energy systems that can operate independently from the central grid, providing reliable power during outages or grid stress. Schneider’s network of EcoXpert partners will support the national rollout. In addition to resilience, microgrids offer cost certainty and faster time to power by overcoming grid constraints.

Examples of resilient energy systems already being deployed include:

• Montgomery County, Maryland: AlphaStruxure microgrids at two bus depots – Brookville and the David F Bone Equipment Maintenance & Transit Operations Center (Emtoc) – support the county’s 100% carbon emissions reduction goal. Brookville powers up to 70 electric buses with a 6.5MW microgrid; Emtoc, at 6.84MW, will eventually support 200 zero-emission buses.
• Piscataway, New Jersey: Through its Piscataway Goes Green initiative, the town is deploying a 2.9MW solar and microgrid system across eight municipal buildings, including the town hall and public safety buildings. The project includes 28 EV charging stations – the largest municipal deployment in New Jersey – and battery energy storage to provide up to five days of backup power. It’s expected to reduce the town’s carbon footprint by more than 50% by 2026 and deliver $19m in savings over 20 years.
• Middle Tennessee Electric: A microgrid in Murfreesboro integrates solar, battery storage and smart energy management to serve 750,000 residents across four counties, ensuring continuity and advancing clean energy goals.
• Longview Independent School District, Texas: A 4.2MW solar project across ten school buildings is projected to save the district $450,000 annually in utility costs. The project also will eliminate approximately nine million pounds of carbon emissions, supporting fiscal responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Schneider (www.se.com) has more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries.

To learn more about the initiative, visit cloud.go.se.com/US_202509_ARIInformationalandFormLP_CNT_NONE_NOCAMP_ALLBU_BDZ_LDOPGEN_NA-LP.