Scale Microgrids’ Post

By enhancing the ability to withstand and rapidly recover from natural disasters, investments in #energyresilience safeguard critical infrastructure, sustain essential services, and protect the economic well-being of communities.

“If you’re installing solar panels, you are creating more energy independence.” FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell is right. After disaster strikes, we have the opportunity to rebuild for resilience – the kind that will help our communities bounce back faster in future disasters. That’s why FEMA’s new program that will rebuild damaged public buildings to be more energy resilient is so exciting. Not only will energy-efficient, electric infrastructure better withstand disaster, they’ll cut back on the climate impacts that create these disasters in the first place. This is exactly the kind of program we need to create a more abundant, equitable, and climate-safe future for us all. https://nyti.ms/3vV6j0C

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced yesterday that it’ll start reimbursing local governments for installing solar panels and more efficient appliances after a disaster strikes. The move can help communities prepare for another calamity by equipping them with tools that just might keep the lights on when they would otherwise suffer a power outage. It’s also a way for the US to deploy technologies that cut greenhouse gas emissions and stave off worsening climate disasters like storms, heatwaves, and wildfires. https://lnkd.in/g-a9px69

It’s a NOW problem, y’all! #climatechange #seachange #propertyinsurance #realestate #globalwarming #climatescience #steameducation #stem #stemeducation #steam #wearealllinthistogether #unitedwestand #nomorecoal #sustainableenergy #nuclearenergy #renewableenergy #carbonfootprint

The fossil-fueled climate emergency is contributing to more intense and frequent disasters, from record-breaking hurricanes to deadly heat waves, wildfires, and disastrous flooding. FEMA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are charged with helping communities prepare for these events and rebuild after disaster strikes. However, the agencies are ill-equipped for the task and are in fact exacerbating the dual climate and energy justice crises by investing billions in rebuilding the fragile fossil fuel status quo. Today the Center for Biological Diversity and 24 energy justice, consumer and environmental groups, including Vessel Project of Louisiana, took action to compel FEMA and HUD to build back fossil-free and work with frontline and environmental justice communities to deliver renewable, distributed, and climate-resilient energy infrastructure. Every dollar from these agencies that would have gone into rebuilding dirty fossil fuel infrastructure could be redirected toward sustainable and resilient solutions like community and rooftop solar, energy efficiency, and weatherization. Join us in calling on FEMA and HUD to abandon fossil fuels and build a just, resilient, and renewable energy future. #FossilFreeFEMA #FossilFreeHUD #EnergyJustice #VesselProjectofLouisiana #NoLNG https://lnkd.in/gsEZe8cZ

The Devastation of Hurricane Milton: A Call for Action on Clean Energy 🌪️⚡ My heart goes out to the state of Florida as we witness the devastating impact of Hurricane Milton, particularly in St. Petersburg, where I know many people and have a residence. The destruction serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for proactive climate solutions. According to the latest “Dirty Truth” (https://lnkd.in/eQzbc_4t) report from the Sierra Club, many major utilities are falling further behind on climate goals, primarily due to increased electricity demand from data centers, factories, and electric vehicles. Instead of embracing cleaner, cheaper alternatives, many utilities are opting to prolong the life of coal plants and invest in new fossil fuel facilities. Cara Folger, a co-author of the report, highlights that this reliance on fossil fuels— or as I sometimes refer to it, fossil fools— reflects a troubling trend: utilities are not taking the necessary steps to transition to renewable energy. With options like wind and solar power, along with battery storage and expanded power grids, utilities can meet rising electricity demands without increasing carbon emissions. We have the technology and solutions available to create a sustainable energy future. Utilities must move beyond vague 2050 targets and commit to immediate action, such as reducing emissions by 80% by 2030. Unfortunately, only a handful of utilities have made such commitments while many continue to rely on fossil fuels. The longer we delay the transition to clean energy, the more severe the consequences will be—not just for our environment but for communities like those in Florida. Let’s advocate for real change and hold our utilities accountable for a sustainable future! 🌍💚 #CleanEnergy #ClimateAction #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #FossilFuels #HurricaneMilton Maria Bries Emilie Oxel O'Leary Liza C. Ashley A. JP Johns Andrew Romero Francisco Roda Ashley Hobbs State of Florida

I believe one of the significant challenges we face today is that our energy needs are growing faster than we can develop new clean energy systems. The rapid expansion required for data centers and AI has absorbed much of the momentum that renewable energy has generated. To address this, we need to find more efficient ways to operate these industries.

Weekend Read: Decarbonizing disaster response: Diesel generators have been the workhorse of disaster relief for decades but as the frequency of extreme weather events rises, so do calls to decarbonize the emergency response. Sustainability may not be the only benefit to using solar in a crisis, as pv magazine discovers. #Community #DistributedStorage #EnergyStorage

🏔️⚡️Power Outages in Mountain Towns? Not Anymore! 🌞🔋 Winter weather in Silverton, Colorado can be brutal ❄️, but that won't stop them from keeping the lights on! The town is taking charge and implementing an innovative resiliency plan to tackle power outages caused by severe weather conditions. How are they doing it? 🤔 By installing microgrids equipped with solar panels ☀️ and batteries 🔋, Silverton is ensuring a reliable backup power source that can keep the community running even during the harshest winter storms. 🌨️ But Silverton isn't the only community in Colorado taking action! The Ute Mountain Ute tribe and other rural communities are also receiving funding for microgrid projects to address their own power outage challenges. 💪 However, let's not overlook the obstacles faced by the mountain communities of Ophir and Rico. Difficult terrain and local opposition have made implementing microgrids a bit tricky. But fear not, they are determined to find solutions and overcome these challenges to ensure a stable power supply for their residents. 👏 Silverton, in particular, is stepping up as a leader in planning and funding sustainable solutions. As the town experiences rapid growth as a tourism destination 🏞️, they understand the importance of reliable power for their community and the visitors they welcome. 💡 Kudos to Silverton and the other communities for their proactive approach in ensuring power resiliency! Let's cheer them on as they pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future. 👏🔌 #PowerResiliency #Microgrid #AJPerkins #MicrogridMentor

In this op-ed with ImpactAlpha, Joanna Smith-Ramani, co-executive director of Aspen FSP, and Greg Gershuny, executive director of The Aspen Institute Energy & Environment Program (EEP), argue that the IRA’s “Direct Pay” option has an opportunity to create wealth in underserved communities. By leveraging the IRA’s direct pay option, we can build community wealth, mitigate climate impacts, and create a more equitable and resilient future for all.