Kentucky Tornadoes Put Solar to the Test
While many families were preparing to wind down for the holidays (including the Footprint Project team), tornado sirens rang out in states across the southeastern United States. With at least 88 fatalities, the “Quad-State Super Cell” became the deadliest December tornado event on record in the United States.
This unprecedented climate disaster became Footprint Project’s first winter deployment, which presented its own unique challenges. Powering lights, WiFi, phones, and refrigeration with our mobile solar + battery systems is one thing; firing up heaters under cloudy, rainy skies and frigid temperatures is another.
The University of Kentucky’s Research and Education Center in Princeton was devastated by the deadly EF4 tornado. It became our largest deployment site and, even through disaster, truly lived up to its name, thanks to Director Dr. Carrie Knott’s innovative and collaborative spirit.
Dr. Carrie Knott, Director, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center
“I’m an educator, and this is a research center,” said Dr. Knott. “It's wonderful to be a part of this project - to be able to do demonstration and outreach, even in a time of our own need. This is what this facility is here for."
Footprint Project deployed two palletized microgrids to power two temporary office containers for University staff. The goal of displacing their ancient diesel generator until grid power would be restored a few weeks later was tricky. Each container was equipped with large heaters, inefficient lighting, and a stubborn door that wouldn’t close tightly, creating a negative feedback loop of battery-draining doom.
Footprint Project volunteers set up solar microgrid in the rain at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center in Princeton, KY
“It was a constant race of monitoring the batteries’ state of charge, managing energy consumption, and hoping for sunshine,” said Will Heegaard, Footprint Project’s Operations Director. “Carrie and her team at the UK’s Research and Education Center have been incredible partners in innovative disaster response.”
Footprint Project volunteers setting up solar generators at Second Christian Church in Mayfield, KY
An hour west of Princeton in Mayfield, Kentucky, power was still out at Second Christian Church where Tonya Kelly was trying to get a supply distribution site up and running. Direct Relief donated three solar generators to the church and Footprint Project, with local solar professional volunteers, helped Ms. Kelly plug in.
At the Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds, a hub for supplies and relief volunteers, our partners at Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (ITDRC) were experiencing similar solar generator pains. Their WiFi trailer, which was providing connectivity for the entire fairgrounds, had a dead battery after the sun failed to appear for days. Footprint Project swapped in one of our solar generators to get the WiFi up and running again.
Footprint Project setting up solar panels for ITDRC’s WiFi trailer at the Mayfield Fairgrounds
Our final stop was at the Dawson Springs’ Fire Department, where the all-volunteer team told us their aging generator equipment needed an upgrade. Footprint Project donated a SunKit solar generator and portable battery packs. Assistant Fire Chief James Sherman shared how, after the tornado ripped through Dawson Springs, the fire department’s diesel generator failed, leaving the building in the dark.
Our team learned some tough lessons in Kentucky. From response to recovery, building back greener is never the easiest path forward - but that’s why it is so important.
We’ll be back in Kentucky this spring piloting a ‘smart’ off-grid office container, in partnership with the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center and SmartAid. We’re also training the volunteer firefighters in Dawson Springs on how to operate and deploy mobile solar generators.
Footprint Project with Dawson Springs volunteer firefighters and donated solar generator equipment
Thank you to our Kentucky deployment partners: SmartAid, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center, Solar Energy Solutions, Sunway Energy Solutions, ITDRC, and Direct Relief.
