Pareto Energy Mission & Vision

Companies and cities that want to control their own energy destiny are taking a cue from “business improvement districts,” the self-taxing organizations that helped solve crime and sanitation problems in the 1980's, and from the successful economic development powered by “enterprise zones.” Through innovative Energy Improvement Districts (EID) and Sustainable Energy Zones (SEZ), Pareto Energy enables local control of electric power (“Local Power”).

Pareto's EIDs use municipal bonds to plan, finance and install microgrids. The microgrid approach recognizes that traditional grid-based power doesn't work well under certain circumstances, especially in densely-developments such as a business center or downtown area: when there is a large amount of peak power, or a badly overloaded substation, or businesses suffering losses from poor power quality. Rebuilding the traditional grid in these areas would require enormous up-front costs, plus investment in peak power capabilities that may only be needed for a few hours or days a year.

The EID microgrid alternative take the same "foot print" and installs a source of environmentally benign, high quality micro generation. This Local Power approach provide ultra-reliable energy for its users, plus even greater surety from using the traditional grid as back-up power. Local Power is also clean power: unlike a conventional plant, EID microgrids take advantage of the excess thermal energy from power generation to heat and cool buildings. From about 30 percent energy efficiency at a conventional power plant (some 70 percent of the energy goes up a smoke stack and adds to global warming or is lost during the electricity's journey from the central plant to where it is used), micro generation can achieve up to 85 percent efficiency.

Pareto's Sustainable Energy Zones build on EIDs to introduce a variety of renewable energy and alternative energy technologies. For example, both solar photovoltaic power, and especially solar thermal energy, can be integrated easily and cost-effectively with other micro generation resources. Small, on-site fuel cell power plants can also provide additional peaking and crucial back-up power for uninterrupted energy service. SEZs couple these on-site power installations with energy conservation measures and optimal power use within the microgrid.