Morton Electric Awarded Illinois American Water Microgrid Project to Enhance Energy Resilience in Champaign-Urbana

Morton Electric is proud to announce that we have been awarded a new solar and battery energy storage project for Illinois American Water's Urbana Operations Center, which supports the delivery of clean drinking water throughout the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area, including the University of Illinois community. The project includes the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of a turnkey solar parking canopy and battery energy storage system.

Supporting Critical Infrastructure

Reliable access to clean drinking water depends on dependable electrical infrastructure. As utilities continue modernizing their operations, renewable energy and battery energy storage systems are becoming valuable tools for improving energy resilience, reducing operating costs, and supporting a more reliable electric grid.

This project reflects Illinois American Water's commitment to investing in innovative infrastructure that benefits both its operations and the communities it serves. By integrating distributed energy resources into one of its facilities, Illinois American Water is taking another step toward building a more resilient and sustainable future.

Solar Parking Canopy Provides Shade and Renewable Energy

The project includes the construction of a solar parking canopy over employee parking areas. In addition to generating clean, renewable electricity, the canopy will provide employees with shaded parking that helps keep vehicles cooler during the summer months.

Installing solar over existing parking areas is an efficient use of developed property while creating a highly visible example of how renewable energy can be incorporated into critical infrastructure without consuming additional land.

Battery Storage for Grid Resilience

The project also includes a commercial Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) integrated with the solar array. The battery system is designed to participate in Ameren Illinois' Smart Inverter Program, which encourages distributed energy resources that improve overall electric grid performance.

Working together, the solar array and battery system can help:

• Improve electrical grid stability
• Support voltage regulation
• Improve overall power quality
• Increase renewable energy utilization
• Strengthen long-term grid resilience

As utilities continue modernizing their electrical infrastructure, projects like this demonstrate how distributed energy resources can support both customer operations and the electric grid as a whole.
Experts in Industrial Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

Morton Electric is already recognized as an expert in the design and integration of industrial Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for commercial, industrial, municipal, and utility applications. Our engineering team specializes in combining battery storage, renewable energy, advanced controls, and intelligent power management systems to create resilient electrical infrastructure for critical facilities.

Our capabilities include:

• Industrial Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
• Commercial and utility-scale microgrids
• Advanced Energy Management Systems (EMS)
• Grid-support technologies
• Industrial electrical infrastructure
• Automation and control systems
• SCADA integration and monitoring
• Long-term operations, maintenance, and remote support

Our experience allows us to deliver solutions that improve reliability, reduce operating costs, and help customers prepare for the evolving demands of the modern electrical grid.

Engineering Solutions for Critical Infrastructure

Water treatment and distribution facilities represent some of our nation's most important critical infrastructure assets. Reliable electrical power is essential for maintaining uninterrupted access to clean drinking water, and resilient energy systems play an increasingly important role in achieving that objective.
Morton Electric provides complete engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and long-term support for electrical infrastructure, renewable energy systems, battery storage, automation, and microgrid projects serving industrial facilities, municipalities, utilities, and institutional customers throughout the Midwest.

Building a More Resilient Energy Future

As utilities, universities, manufacturers, hospitals, municipalities, and critical infrastructure providers continue investing in resilient energy systems, battery storage and intelligent microgrids are becoming an essential part of the nation's electrical future.

Morton Electric is committed to helping our customers deploy innovative technologies that improve reliability, strengthen critical infrastructure, reduce operating costs, and support a cleaner, more resilient electric grid. We believe the future of power generation lies in intelligently integrating renewable energy, battery energy storage, automation, and advanced control software to create smarter and more reliable energy systems for generations to come.
We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Illinois American Water on this important project and look forward to delivering a high-quality installation that will serve the facility and the surrounding community for many years to come.

About Morton Electric

Morton Electric is an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor specializing in industrial electrical systems, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), solar energy, automation, controls, and microgrid development. We serve manufacturers, water and wastewater utilities, universities, municipalities, and other critical infrastructure providers with innovative electrical solutions that improve reliability, increase resilience, and support the evolving needs of the modern electric grid.