Harnessing New Technology to Weather the Storm
The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene has been heart-wrenching, and many Southeast communities are still struggling to recover. While the road ahead is long, the resilience and support within these areas have been nothing short of inspiring. People and businesses across the region are stepping up to help one another and supporting critical recovery efforts through innovative uses of clean energy.
In some of the hardest-hit areas, clean energy technologies are filling gaps where traditional relief efforts haven’t yet reached. Communities are leveraging these resources in creative ways to provide essential support during a critical time. For example, bidirectional charging—or using EVs as large, portable batteries—is becoming a game-changer, allowing businesses and individuals to keep the lights on during an emergency. From a veterinary clinic in Florida able to stay open thanks to an F-150 Lightning to a Georgia couple using their Kia EV6 to heat their water and keep the A/C running in 90-degree heat, EVs are proving to be a reliable alternative to traditional generators when the grid goes down.
Local organizations are also playing a vital role in recovery. The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA), in partnership with non-profits like Footprint Project, is deploying critical resources like solar trailers and palletized microgrids to areas where recovery agencies have not yet arrived, ensuring even remote areas have access to power.
In New Orleans, the Community Lighthouse Project shines as an example of local leadership. By creating microgrids powered by solar energy with battery backups, churches across the city have become refuge centers during blackouts, allowing people to cool down and charge everything from breathing and dialysis machines to personal electronics.
As we adopt these new technologies, safety remains crucial, especially in storm-prone areas. Lithium-ion batteries and salt water do not mix well—whether it’s the battery in a toy, laptop, or an EV. It’s essential to take/ precautions to protect your property during storms, especially in storm surge zones.
Though clean energy technology is continually evolving, it’s already helping communities think differently about how they can help themselves and others in times of power loss. Solar-powered generators, EV bidirectional charging, and microgrids are easing the strain caused by blackouts and preparing communities for the future.
Can chambers of commerce play a role in improving electric reliability for their communities? How can the business community lead in utilizing clean energy technology to better prepare for emergencies? If your chamber of commerce or community has a success story to share, we would love to hear from you.
Many people in the storm-damaged Southeast still need support. If you’d like to help, please consider donating to one of the organizations listed here.