A New, Cleaner Tool For Long-Term Stability, Immediate Disaster Recovery
A winter storm with the potential to create widespread power outages swept through North Carolina over the weekend. As of late Sunday evening, over 21 thousand customers across the state were without power due to storm-related outages. Most of those impacted are in the mountains and the Charlotte region.
This storm’s apparent impacts were dwarfed by the extent and severity of 2024’s Hurricane Helene weather catastrophe. It still adds another warning of the increasing number and severity of climate-change-driven storm impacts.
The good news worth noting here is this: While carbon emissions got us into this mess, clean renewable energy can get us out. Case in point: Mobile and permanent microgrids of clean energy are an emerging new tool for both immediate disaster recovery and long-term energy stability, especially in rural areas.
Permanent, Clean Energy Microgrids in Western NC
“Microgrids” are small installations of solar panels and battery storage designed to operate independently of the massive multistate power grids for collection and distribution of electricity. They can be mobile, such as a trailer that can be dispatched to aid in storm relief and recovery operations, or permanent, such as an installation at a rural fire department to help keep operations there going in response to emergencies during a regional power loss. Mobile microgrid trailers provided to western NC after Helene by the New Orleans-based Footprint Project caught public attention.
Now, these same clean energy microgrids are being installed in permanent locations in our mountains, in a program that is being touted as a potential national model. Also known as “resilience hubs,” these permanent installations are being installed in five locations by a multi-organization regional coalition. They’ve even caught the attention of Governor Josh Stein’s state Energy Office, which has made a $5 million grant from North Carolina’s share of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law money to add another 24 installations across a six-county region hammered hardest by Helene.
How We Continue to Drive Clean Energy Solutions
From these hyper-local clean energy innovations to massive offshore wind farms, clean energy solutions are on the move. As citizens, it’s our job to keep them moving by electing more environmental champions like Governor Josh Stein, and replacing pro-polluter politicians trying to hold clean energy back, from the state house to the White House.
Right now, we are working in several primary elections to replace politicians that have continually voted against the environment. By supporting us today, you can help us replace these politicians with environmental champions; champions who push NC towards a more sustainable, just, and equitable future.
Not able to give right now? That’s ok! Instead, take some time to tell your lawmakers to prioritize cleaner, cheaper energy!
