Fire stations and community hubs in western North Carolina will soon gain solar power and battery storage to withstand future outages. The installations form part of a $5 million state initiative targeting areas hit by Hurricane Helene.
The Burnsville Fire Department plans to add 40 kilowatt-hours of solar panels and 80 kilowatt-hours of battery storage. Fire Chief Niles Howell said the system will provide redundancy after the station relied on a generator during the storm nearly two years ago.
State officials have funded 26 microgrid projects, including 24 stationary units and two mobile systems. Five stationary sites were announced in June, with installations scheduled to start this summer. Two mobile trailers, called “bees” by the Footprint Project, are set to deploy in 2027.
The mobile units can supply up to 100 kilowatt-hours and support operations at food banks, libraries, and emergency centers. Footprint Project CEO Will Heegaard noted that the trailers can reach communities immediately after disasters.
Governor Josh Stein requested $1 million for additional microgrids in Helene relief funding, but the request was not approved. Department of Environmental Quality leader Reid Wilson continues discussions with potential partners across the state.