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Hurricane Helene underscores need for more solar-battery microgrids

Jeff St. John

October 18, 2024 |

Canary Media |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Hot Springs, North Carolina

A small community in the mountains of North Carolina, Hot Springs, relied on a solar-powered microgrid with battery storage when the substation that supplied its power washed away in the flooding after Hurricane Helene. Microgrids like that could be a critical part of building extreme weather resilience elsewhere, too.

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How a Technology Similar to Fracking Can Store Renewable Energy Underground Without Lithium Batteries

Dylan Baddour

August 27, 2024 |

Inside Climate News |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

Three startups in Houston are using a technique similar to fracking, a practice used in the oil and gas industry, to store renewable energy without batteries. They use excess renewable energy to pump pressurized water into manmade caverns underground. When energy is needed, they open the caverns, sending the water back to the surface to turn a turbine and generate power.

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El Paso solar cooperative helps homeowners save thousands on rooftop solar. It may be back next year.

Diego Mendoza-Moyers

August 25, 2024 |

El Paso Matters |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, El Paso, Texas

Several nonprofits are running a solar cooperative in El Paso, Texas, that helps homeowners come together to buy and install solar panels in bulk, which makes them more affordable.

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On a rural Hawaiian island, solar provides a path to energy sovereignty

Naoki Nitta

August 09, 2024 |

Grist |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Moloka’i, Hawaii

Facing sky-high utility costs and accessibility challenges, the community of Molokaʻi, Hawaii, took their energy security into their own hands and developed an energy-resilience-focused action plan. Backed by the primary state utility, the community is installing solar arrays and batteries, some of which are collectively owned and subscription-based. At the same time, the solar cooperative is cultivating a local workforce specialized in solar infrastructure.

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Funds to Help Low-Income Families With Summer Electric Bills Are Stretched Thin

Martha Pskowski Jenaye Johnson

July 19, 2024 |

Inside Climate News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

The government-funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is meant to help households across the United States keep afford the cost of heating in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.

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Crowdfunding amid blackout saves Kwara residents from losses

Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

July 06, 2024 |

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Nigeria, Surulere-Alabi, Kwara

When the transformer that supplied an entire community’s power collapsed, and the government and power companies weren’t acting to solve the problem, local residents joined forces to crowdfund for a new transformer, helping to ensure the lights stay on and community members can continue to work and carry out their daily activities.

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Want to See Community Solar Done Right? A Project in Michigan's Upper Peninsula Can Serve as a Model

Dan Gearino

May 23, 2024 |

Inside Climate News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, L'Anse, Michigan

A community solar project in a rural Michigan town is making energy more affordable for low-to-moderate-income households. Fifty community members and organizations subscribed to receive energy from and support the construction of a solar array. As a result, their electricity bills are about $300 cheaper each year, and the local utility reported fewer late payments.

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Giant Batteries Are Transforming the Way the U.S. Uses Electricity

Brad Plumer Nadja Popovich

May 07, 2024 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

California and Texas are among the states in the U.S. installing giant lithium-ion batteries to store renewable energy to use when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. These batteries are reducing the use of fossil fuels as a backup energy source when demand is high.

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Getting off fossil fuels is hard, but this city is doing it — building by building

Jeff Brady

March 04, 2024 |

NPR |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Ithaca, New York

The town of Ithaca is working with its local gas utility and area homeowners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by removing gas pipes from homes and businesses by switching them over to electricity, primarily from renewable sources. While the transition is a long process, the town expects to achieve about a 30% reduction in emissions in the next year.

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Asheville nonprofit reduces energy burdens in North Carolina

Elizabeth Ouzts

November 07, 2023 |

Energy News Network |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Asheville, North Carolina

Energy Savers Network helps people cut down on their energy waste by making home improvements like tightening air seals, insulating hot water heaters and replacing lightbulbs. The Network has helped more than 1,000 homes since forming in 2017 and, on average, the improvements have helped cut energy use by about 15%.

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