BUILD BACK GREENER

CLEAN ENERGY FOR COMMUNITIES IN CRISIS

Power in an emergency. Resilience for the future.

Footprint Project works with communities and local partners to deliver cleaner, mobile power when disasters disrupt the grid. We provide long-term support, hands-on education, and shared energy resources to help communities build the capacity to power what matters next.

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Explore Our Programs
Photo of staff members under a Footprint Project banner. In the center of a photo is an icon of a bulleseye with a lightening bolt - representing impact.
See Our Impact
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Support the Work

WHY THIS WORK MATTERS

When the grid goes down, essential services go too.

Power outages can interrupt communication, healthcare, food storage, cooling, shelter operations, and access to clean water. Fuel-dependent generators can be costly, difficult to maintain, and vulnerable to disrupted supply chains. Footprint Project helps communities meet urgent energy needs with cleaner, greener infrastructure while building the knowledge and relationships needed for long-term resilience.

Learn about Our Story
Photo of a solar panel setup in the field during the Hurricane Melissa response in Jamaica.

HOW WE WORK

A continuous cycle from response to resilience

A disaster deployment is not the end of the story. Footprint Project works alongside local organizations to respond to urgent needs, strengthen community capacity, share practical skills, and keep clean-energy equipment in productive use.

  • A team responds to a rapid disaster in Venezuela.

    01. Respond

     Deploy power where it is needed now. We coordinate with trusted partners to rapidly deliver mobile clean-energy systems that support essential services during outages and recovery.

    Rapid Disaster Response
  • A portable solar-powered charging station is setup at Bonaroo for attendees to charge their devices without electricity.

    02. Strengthen

    Build systems and relationships that last. Long-term technical support, resilient infrastructure, and collaborative planning help communities prepare for future disruption.

    Long-Term Resilience
  • A build power workshop helps local organizations learn how to respond to their local communities power needs.

    03. Build

    Put tools and knowledge in the community's hands. Build Power workshops bring people together to construct energy equipment, develop practical skills, and grow local confidence.

    Build Power
  • A neon sign says "Resilience is Lit" representing how power is upcycled.

    04. Recirculate

    Give clean-energy equipment a second life. Upcycled Energy redirects usable equipment from waste streams to organizations and communities that can put it to work.

    Upcycled Energy

LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS. SHARED GLOBAL IMPACT.

Community power reaches beyond borders.

Footprint Project combines that local expertise with clean-energy equipment, training, and a growing network of responders, allies, and technical partners. What begins as an urgent deployment can create shared knowledge, stronger local systems, and new models for energy resilience in communities around the world.

Explore our impact.

Responding from the field

Read Field Notes Blog
Blog Content
Situation Report: Venezuela Earthquakes Response [07/27/2026]
Rapid Disaster Response, Spotlight
Situation Report: Venezuela Earthquakes Response [07/27/2026]
Rapid Disaster Response, Spotlight

Footprint Project's Rae Goldman, Associate Director of Operations, and Gabriel Pacheco, Caribbean Program Manager, arrived in Venezuela in early July to lead the response on the ground, focused on getting reliable power to families and institutions — including the churches and community foundations described below — that the broader response hasn't yet reached. Since activating on June 25, our Footprint Project staff, and a growing group of local volunteers, have logged more than 919 combined hours assessing sites, delivering equipment, and building the community partnerships needed to get reliable power where it's needed most.

Read more →
Rapid Disaster Response, Spotlight
Battery Energy Storage Systems Assisting LA Wildfire Recovery
Rapid Disaster Response, Spotlight
Battery Energy Storage Systems Assisting LA Wildfire Recovery
Rapid Disaster Response, Spotlight

As multiple wildfires burned across Los Angeles County in early 2025, We partnered with the local film industry and the National Forest Service to replace 4 large diesel generators with solar and battery energy storage systems. 

A team led by Footprint Project and Overdrive Energy Solutions worked with the U.S. Forest Service to replace diesel generators with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) at the Eaton Fire Incident Command (IC) Post at the Rose Bowl Stadium. The Rose Bowl Stadium and surrounding parking lots had been turned into a massive incident command post. Agencies involved included LA Fire, LA County Fire, CAL Fire, LAPD, and the U.S. Forest Service. Because the Eaton Fire was burning on federal forest service land, the U.S. Forest Service was leading the operation. During this crisis, the stadium turned into a staging ground for over 4,000 firefighters, national guard troops, and first responders from city, state, county, and federal agencies. 

Read more →
Rapid Disaster Response, Spotlight

FEATURED ENERGY SOLUTION

The Beehive Microgrid

Illustration of solar power equipment, including three mobile solar generator units in yellow, orange, and blue, a solar panel, an inverter, and a battery storage system.

A Beehive Microgrid is a dynamic system of rapidly-deployable mobile energy assets that address both disaster response and long-term resilience for vulnerable communities. It is a flexible, customizable network consisting of a centralized semi-permanent “Hive” and numerous energy “Bees.”

Learn more
Sponsor a Beehive

POWERED BY PARTNERSHIP

Resilience is built together

Footprint Project works with donors, clean-energy companies, community organizations, volunteers, funders, and mission-aligned partners. Every contribution helps move clean power closer to the communities that need it.

Become an Ally
Individual loading batteries into a Medic Corps plane for disaster response. There is a sun icon with a dollar sign in the center to represent making a donation.
Make a Donation
Group of people installing solar panels on top of a shipping container as part of the disaster response efforts in Venezuela. In the center of the image is an icon of a gear with a lightening bolt in the middle.
Donate Equipment
Solar panels being unloaded off a truck as part of the disaster response in LA. In the center of the image is an icon of two connected solar panels representing partners.
Partner With Us

How we help people

  • "The solar trailer was first utilized to support two different incident command teams when local wildfires started in our area. The trailer replaced the use of large diesel-powered generators needed to set up the command center, as these posts were located in very rural areas without any power."

    - Chuck Cerasoli, Fire Chief, Steamboat Springs, CO Fire Rescue

  • "Working alongside Footprint Project in the days and weeks after Hurricane Ida not only motivated the people around them to stay engaged with communities hardest hit by the storm, but also opened our eyes to what creative, hard-working, and dedicated innovators can do.”

    - Chris W. Cox, Commander, VFW Post 8973, New Orleans, LA

  • “Footprint Project was a savior to us during the tornado back in March. Without their help, we would not have been able to provide food and resources to those impacted in our community. They went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. This organization is a lifesaver!”

    - Jamie Richardson, Executive Director, Community Center of St. Bernard

  • “The mobile solar station provided by Footprint Project captured the imagination of many decision makers in town. 70 unhoused persons got access to electricity and it educated hundreds more on the importance of solar energy as an emergency response tool. Partnering up with Footprint Project created hope and saved lives among the unhoused!”

    - Herman Barahona, Sacramento Environmental Justice Coalition, Sacramento heatwave

  • “Footprint Project’s responsiveness and tenacity brought us much needed resources in a time when we were dealing with our own disaster recovery and, more importantly, ensured that our patients were able to access healthcare in their time of need.”

    - Robin Boyles, Chief Program Planning & Development Officer, Delta Health Center, Mississippi Tornadoes

  • “Footprint and partners have changed the quality of life for thousands here in West Maui. Their work has enabled many organizations and community groups to serve our community. Without a stable, independent power source we could not have continued to help so many.”

    - Kai Nishiki, Maui Nui Resiliency Hui

  • “I cannot express how grateful Mandala Springs is for the effort and kindness of you all at Footprint Project. Having connectivity has enabled us to do a huge outreach and interaction with the disaster committees in the area, and we are now ramping up our delivery of potable and non-potable water down the valley to those areas that will be without for a significant period of time.”

    - Mandala Springs, Hurricane Helene, Western NC

  • “Footprint Project played a critical role in supporting the Double Island Fire Department and the surrounding community during Hurricane-related emergencies by providing essential resources designed to restore power, communication and safety during widespread outages”

    - Valerie Stiles, President/First Captain, Double Island Fire Department

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POWER THE NEXT RESPONSE.

Help clean energy reach communities when it matters most.

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Follow our journey on social

The Broad River Fire and Rescue Station is located in a highly vulnerable region of Western North Carolina, due to its steep slopes and abundant water. During Hurricane Helene, the area surrounding the station suffered extreme flooding that washed aw
As we enter the season of generosity this #GivingTuesday, we'd like to highlight some local orgs we've partnered with this year to empower communities in crisis. In Western North Carolina, Colaborativa la Milpa is a network of community-led organiz
We’re partnering with @ireesolar to provide free solar power for the @water_mission water purification operation in the Westmoreland parish of Jamaica. Because of this solar microgrid system, Water Mission will be able to more efficiently provi
Maurice and Natasha reflect on their time volunteering with us in response to Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. Thanks for all that you’ve done, and continue to do!! 🙌😊
Yesterday we visited Walkerswood Basic School in the St. Ann parish of Jamaica. They experienced extensive damage from Hurricane Melissa to their recently renovated school, but remain optimistic as their community rebuilds. We had a great conversatio
Before Hurricane Melissa formed in the Atlantic, our Founding Director, Will Heegaard, had already planned his trip to attend the SESA Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico to learn from and discuss with renewable energy advocates. It wasn’t until da