California and Massachusetts are preparing to spend millions to support microgrid projects as the micro­grids—energy systems that can run separately from the wider grid system to protect critical facilities from power outages—are gaining steam nationally and worldwide.

A consortium of government agencies and private utilities unveiled a $17.6-billion plan.

New Jersey Transit is moving forward to implement the nation’s first microgrid tailored specifically to support public rail-infrastructure operations in case of a commercial power-grid disruption.