Waynesville awarded $487,532 Dogwood Health Trust grant for solar and battery microgrid at Public Works

The Town of Waynesville will receive a $487,532.40 grant from Dogwood Health Trust to install a solar array and battery storage system at the town’s Public Works Building, the chair of the town’s Environmental Sustainability Board announced during the Jan. 13 council meeting.

"This award is valued at $487,532.40," William Hyatt said, adding the equipment will foster resilience during and after natural disasters by maintaining power at the site and reducing electricity costs over the life of the assets.

Hyatt, who chairs the town’s Environmental Sustainability Board, said the project will enable the Public Works Building to operate as an emergency command center during prolonged outages by enabling islanding — the ability for a site to run independently of the grid when paired with battery storage. He described the award as the product of local grant writing and earlier federal technical assistance: "We're one of 30 communities in the country selected ... to be awarded Communities LEAP," he said, referring to a U.S. Department of Energy program administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Town staff and the board framed the microgrid as both a public‑safety measure and a demonstration project. Hyatt said the array will be visible from Legion Drive and could signal the town’s commitment to resilience and renewable energy. He also credited staff members and volunteers who assisted with the application and thanked Dogwood Health Trust for the investment.

Council members asked technical questions about related deliverables produced through NREL and noted those draft plans include possibilities such as replacing peak‑shaving diesel generators and exploring fleet electrification. Hyatt cautioned the NREL deliverables discussed at the meeting were rough drafts: the documents are under review and any procurement or construction would require additional council approvals.

One council member noted the town might be eligible for federal or tax incentives in addition to the grant, saying recent federal programs could offset more than 40 percent of capital costs. Hyatt and staff said the council will consider next steps, cost‑estimates and potential additional funding sources before committing to construction.

No formal vote was required to announce the grant. Councilors expressed appreciation and directed staff to continue planning and to bring implementation items back for future action.