Kira Erickson reports from the City of Langley for the South Whidbey Record. Read the whole story.
The city of Langley has been awarded a sizable grant from the state Department of Commerce to study the feasibility of implementing a series of small electrical systems throughout the Village by the Sea.
Known as microgrids, the localized electric power systems using solar panels and back-up batteries help residents stay safe, warm and connected in the event of an emergency, according to a press release.
The city received $250,000 to study these efforts in the form of the Clean Energy Fund Grid Modernization grant. Meredith Penny, Langley’s director of community planning, said the project’s engineering team will analyze a total of 15 sites within the city that could be potential candidates for microgrids. The goal is to narrow this down to just three sites for a more in-depth feasibility study in the future.
They Said It
“[The microgrid sites] don’t have to be places where the entire city might gather, but maybe where a neighborhood might gather, that way people can shelter in place,” Penny said.
Penny recalled many people were interested in this effort [to replace traditional heat sources fueled by natural gas and propane with electric heat pumps], but nervous about what they would do if their homes lost power.
“If we can provide people with more places to go or more education about what to do during a power outage, that might encourage more people to make the switch,” she said.
Penny said the city of Langley plans to host three workshops to educate citizens on microgrids and to gather community input. The first is at 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1 in room 116 of the South Whidbey Community Center, located at 723 Camano Ave.
“There will be refreshments, hands-on activities and a chance to gather with neighbors to talk about community resiliency,” the press release stated.
On the Ballot in November 2025
| CITY OF LANGLEY |
|---|
| Councilmember, Position 1 Thomas E. Gill Incumbent Harolynne Bobis did not file to retain her seat |
| Councilmember, Position 2 Dominique Emerson Incumbent Rhonda Salerno did not file to retain her seat |
| Councilmember, Position 5 Savannah Erickson Incumbent Gail Fleming did not file to retain her seat |
