ABOUT CSMG
Citizen Effort for Community Resilience
What We Do
The Critical Services Microgrid Group is an AD HOC, intergenerational, interdisciplinary, and intercollegiate NETWORK of professionals, businesses, and students. We aim to be a catalyst for networking, preparedness, innovation, and Microgrid market formation. Since 2020, CSMG principals have provided pro-bono technical advisory services to non-profits and local governments in Western North Carolina.
Our participants have completed experiential learning and Undergraduate Research projects with undergraduate students, faculty and staff at UNC Asheville and Warren Wilson College involving Microgrids, working lands, energy innovation, and decarbonization.
We supplied systems designs, grant writing, and project planning for campus Solar Mobile Microgrid Work Vehicles, Solar Charged Electric Tractors, a 21-EV School Bus Fleet Charging Microgrid for the Eastern Band of Cherokee People, and Community Resiliency Hubs for the Land of Sky Regional Council.
We introduced Footprint Project’s initial response team to our local WNC network of community groups, first responders, and local housing / support resources beginning the first weekend following Helene.
Who We Are
Our CSMG Network, comprised of individuals and company representatives, supports individuals and organizations aiming to accelerate understanding - by their decision-makers, facilities and fleet managers, and internal advocates - for adaptation to navigate mazes of systems integration required to capture stacked values and demonstrated financial savings and benefits of resilient, islandable Microgrids.
To learn about our founders, CLICK HERE.
What We Are Currently Developing - Power Mule Project
We are planning two use-cases for our first Power Mule Microgrid prototypes:
A Volunteer Fire Station in the Fairview community of Craigtown, which survived losing the most casualties during Helene, for powering their normal operations and emergency deployment to community centers, food banks, and other critical services facilities.
An Electric School Bus 2 Commercial Building Load charging system for the Cherokee Boys Club Fleet Service, whose 21 Electric School Buses can become capable of delivering emergency power for Critical Service Facilities on the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee People.
Our plan is to release a structural design package as open-source CAD/M files, to be adapted for Emergency Preparedness, Resiliency and Affordability efforts in the US, Africa, or other areas of need.
To learn more CLICK HERE.
How We Operate
We are an ad hoc network that has held Weekly Friday Zoom Meetings since January of 2020.
We share information, news, project management updates, and pursue strategies to save money and lives, and accelerate adoption of accountable, cost-effective, public and private investments.
Ironically, for the only time since we began, our scheduled weekly meeting on September 27, 2024 couldn’t be held because of power and Internet outages caused by SuperStorm Helene.
