The U.S. General Services Administration's White Oak campus in Maryland has emerged as an unlikely power plant, demonstrating a new model for energy resilience. During a record-breaking heat wave in July, the campus, equipped with Honeywell Technologies' energy infrastructure and microgrid solutions, operated independently and exported over 58,000 kilowatt-hours of surplus power back to the grid. At its peak, it supplied 2.5 megawatts of capacity, roughly ten times its normal contribution, helping to stabilize the regional grid.
Traditionally, large research campuses like White Oak are seen as consumers of electricity. However, this facility has transformed into both a consumer and producer of energy. Through an integrated microgrid and advanced energy infrastructure, it can disconnect from the grid, support mission-critical operations, and provide excess generation capacity to surrounding communities. As of early September, the campus had entered 'island mode' 48 times in 2026, operating independently for a combined 54 hours.
The ability to reduce demand or contribute energy during peak periods is crucial for grid affordability. White Oak's contribution during the July heat emergency illustrates how distributed energy resources can provide broader benefits. The campus eliminated its own grid consumption and provided additional capacity, helping to lower pressure on the system and reduce costs for consumers.
At the heart of the White Oak campus is a combined heat and power plant that produces electricity, heating, and cooling. Honeywell Technologies' modernization program enhanced these capabilities with advanced microgrid controls, demand response functionality, and critical-load redundancy. The upgrades, carried out through an energy savings performance contract, also reduce the campus's energy use and costs, making it a model for future energy management.