Through this pilot program, qualifying nonprofits can receive up to $50,000 in funding toward the installation of a battery storage system or a battery-plus-solar system. Participants will also receive advising support through Boulder County’s Partners for a Clean Environment to help evaluate energy resilience options and navigate the process of designing and implementing a system to meet their needs.
Interested organizations are invited to attend a workshop on Monday, July 27, 2026, to learn more about the pilot program, connect with like-minded organizations and explore broader community resilience needs with city staff. For more information about the workshop, contact Deryn Wagner, Climate Engagement Strategist.
Applications are open through Aug. 14, 2026
Why is the city creating this pilot?
Electricity systems power nearly every aspect of daily life, supporting essential city services and businesses, keeping medical equipment running and food safely stored. Because the community has experienced longer and more frequent power outages in recent years, the City of Boulder is working with Xcel Energy to improve reliability while also exploring new ways to help local organizations prepare for and respond to extended outages.
What is a resiliency hub?
A resiliency hub is a community location equipped with backup energy resources that can provide support during extended power outages.
Organizations participating in the pilot may use battery storage systems to support services such as (but not limited to):
- Providing temporary shelter or a safe gathering space
- Maintaining refrigeration for food and medicine
- Supporting the use of medical equipment
- Providing charging stations for phones and other essential devices
- Maintaining communications access, such as internet connectivity
The needs of every organization and community are different. Through this pilot, the city hopes to learn what types of energy resilience solutions are most effective for supporting different populations and services throughout Boulder.
What will the pilot accomplish?
This pilot will help the city better understand where additional investments or strategies are needed to support community resilience.
Other goals for the pilot are to:
- Support organizations that are already working to improve community preparedness
- Learn what types of backup power solutions best meet different community needs
- Identify opportunities and challenges for expanding resiliency hub approaches in the future
- Develop best practices that can inform future programs and policies
How does this work fit into broader reliability efforts?
The city continues to advocate for improvements to the electric grid, including infrastructure upgrades, targeted undergrounding, equipment replacement and other investments that can reduce outage risks and improve reliability.
At the same time, no electric system can completely eliminate the possibility of outages, particularly as extreme weather risks increase. Community-based solutions like resiliency hubs are one tool that can help Boulder prepare for disruptions while broader infrastructure improvements continue.
Who can apply?
The Resiliency Hub Pilot Program is open to qualifying nonprofit organizations offering critical services that require backup power during outages.
The city will hold an informational session on Monday, July 27, email us to RSVP and learn more.
