Microgrids, Resiliency, and the Future of Power with Enchanted Rock’s Joel Yu

On this episode of Path to Zero, host Tucker Perkins sits down with Joel Yu, Senior Vice President of Policy and External Affairs at Enchanted Rock, to talk about how microgrids are reshaping America’s energy future. From hospitals and grocery stores to data centers and military bases, Enchanted Rock has deployed over a gigawatt of capacity, making it one of the nation’s leaders in resilient energy solutions.

Why Microgrids Matter
Yu explains that the traditional diesel generator—long used as backup power—has given way to smarter, cleaner microgrids powered by natural gas and propane. These systems don’t just provide emergency power during outages. They can also operate in tandem with the grid, offering flexibility and capacity when demand spikes. As Yu notes, this “win-win” approach helps both host facilities and the overall grid.

A Cleaner Resilience
One of Enchanted Rock’s big moves has been moving away from diesel. Yu highlights how natural gas and propane dramatically reduce particulate matter and other pollutants—improving local air quality and health outcomes while still delivering resilience. For customers with carbon commitments, the company is also exploring hydrogen blends and renewable natural gas.

Lessons from Texas
Texas has become a proving ground for resiliency. During Winter Storm Uri, Enchanted Rock’s microgrids kept hospitals, nursing homes, and grocery stores running while much of the state went dark. That event spurred new state-level investments, including a $1.8 billion fund designated to support backup power packages—including microgrids—for critical facilities across Texas.

DOE Report on Grid Fragility & Resource Adequacy
In July 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy released a landmark study, Evaluating the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid, warning that millions of Americans could face blackouts lasting nearly a month each year unless urgent action is taken.

Enchanted Rock has observed that the report underscores the urgency for flexible, dispatchable, on-site solutions.

Yu explained to Tucker how microgrids can play a bridge role in fragile or constrained grid pockets by delivering local, dispatchable power when and where it matters most.

Looking Ahead
From reshored manufacturing and AI data centers to military installations, the demand for reliable, flexible power is only growing. Yu believes microgrids will play a central role in meeting that need. If he had a magic wand, he’d use it to open grid operators’ minds to flexibility—shifting away from rigid “always-on” assumptions and unlocking the value of distributed, dispatchable resources.

As Yu put it: “Microgrids aren’t the entire solution, but they have to be part of the mix.”