Pine Point Schools cuts the ribbon on new, 2.7 MWh microgrid project
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- Pine Point Schools commissioned a 2.7 MWh microgrid that couples a 500 kW solar array with a 400 kW, 2.7 MWh battery energy storage system, marking a new energy‑independence milestone for the White Earth Reservation.
- Ziegler Energy Solutions acted as the regional CAT Energy dealer that designed, installed, and manages the solar‑plus‑BESS system for Pine Point Schools.
- Pine Point Schools highlighted that the microgrid will shield the district from rising electricity rates tied to a nearby data‑center construction and guarantee power for its storm‑shelter function.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that 79 % of planned new utility‑scale generation capacity in 2026 will be solar with battery storage, underscoring the growing norm of solar‑plus‑BESS projects.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration reports roughly 40 % of new home solar installations in 2025 included battery storage, reflecting rapid adoption of combined solar‑battery systems.
Why it matters: Pine Point Schools and the White Earth community gain reliable, lower‑cost power while avoiding rate spikes from the nearby data center; the microgrid’s 2.7 MWh storage also bolsters emergency resilience, reducing dependence on the regional grid.
![ELM MicroGrid installs battery storage in its hometown [video]](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/ELM_PEORIA.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600)
