Resilient Power for North Carolina: Solar+Storage Efforts in the Wake of Hurricane Helene

In the wake of Hurricane Helene in September 2024, solar and battery storage technologies played a vital role in disaster response and recovery efforts in Western North Carolina. Over 395,000 North Carolina residents lost power due to the storm’s catastrophic flooding and high winds. Innovative microgrid installations helped restore power to some critical facilities faster than traditional grid infrastructure could, and emergency mobile solar+storage deployments brought relief to isolated rural communities.  

This Clean Energy Group webinar highlighted the collaborative efforts between utilities, nonprofits, and local organizations working to build a more resilient and sustainable energy future for Western North Carolina through solar+storage. 

Speakers included Jason Handley, General Manager of the Distributed Energy Group at Duke Energy; Matt Abele, Executive Director of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association; and Aubry Larson and Nate Heegaard of Footprint Project. Olivia Tym of Clean Energy Group moderated.