In an effort to enhance disaster response efforts and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, Empowered by Light, a renewable energy nonprofit, has teamed up with Enphase to provide portable solar generators to fire-stricken areas of Los Angeles. The collaboration aims to provide critical energy to both fire fighting teams and local communities affected by the ongoing fires.
“These solar generators will provide urgently needed power, supporting firefighters and others as they transition away from diesel generators, which have long been the standard in disaster relief,” said Moira Hanes, Executive Director of Empowered by Light. “This initiative will help break the cycle of environmental disasters and fossil-fuel-powered responses.”
The partnership has deployed 25 Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500s, portable solar generators equipped with solar modules that can charge devices like cell phones, radios, laptops, and lighting. A dozen of these units are going to fire strike teams, powering essential communication devices in areas where grid access is unavailable. Six additional units will be sent to World Central Kitchen, providing vital infrastructure support in underserved neighborhoods.
“These units will offer a renewable power source to keep critical communications running for the firefighters in remote areas without power,” said Captain Richard Birt, retired from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, who is assisting in coordinating the deployment.
The use of solar-powered generators for disaster relief is becoming more common. In Southern California, ABC Solar responded to a landslide in July 2024 by deploying solar, battery storage, and generator systems to residents affected by the event. Their efforts included setting up new power systems for 29 homes, which had been evacuated after the disaster.
This move to solar-powered solutions marks a positive step in integrating renewable energy into disaster recovery efforts, reducing environmental impacts while providing essential support to both responders and local communities.
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