PRESS RELEASES

Our press team loves working with journalists to share the compelling and impactful stories behind The Footprint Project. If you are a member of the media and would like to connect with our staff, please reach out to our to press@footprintproject.org

FOOTPRINT IN THE NEWS

SOLAR GENERATORS PROVIDE RELIEF FOR COMMUNITIES STILL WITHOUT POWER
OCT, 2024

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Footprint Project, a New Orleans-based nonprofit, deployed solar generators to support communities still without power in western North Carolina. At Barnardsville Elementary School, volunteers installed solar panels and battery packs to power the facility, which was serving as a donation hub. The organization has been collecting solar and battery donations from installers across the state and dispatching electrician teams to install and maintain them at no cost. This initiative ensures that affected areas have access to clean, reliable energy during recovery efforts.

VOLUNTEER BRING SOLAR POWER TO HURRICANE HELEN’S DISASTER ZONE
OCT, 2024

Nearly 23,500 residents in western North Carolina remain without power. In Tipton Hill, Bobby Renfro has set up a community resource hub reliant on a costly and noisy gas generator to keep essential medical devices running. Help arrived with the solar generator provided by Footprint Project, renowned for its sustainable response efforts using portable solar systems. Volunteers, including locals and solar company installers, are assisting with the distribution of these solar systems to affected areas. Despite the extensive damage, efforts continue with hopes of better recovery outcomes, drawing on lessons from prior disasters like Hurricane Maria.

POP-UP MICROGRIDS POWERED MEDICAL CLINICS, WATER GENERATORS, COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND OTHER CRITICAL RESOURCES
OCT, 2024

Pop-up solar microgrids played a vital role after Hurricane Helene, powering essential services like medical clinics, water systems, communication tools, and refrigeration for medication. Organizations like Footprint Project rapidly deployed these systems to areas without power, emphasizing sustainability and resilience. Volunteers and local communities worked together to distribute and install the systems. These clean energy solutions highlight the potential of microgrids to ensure uninterrupted access to critical resources during disasters, offering a cleaner and quieter alternative to traditional gas generators.

SOLAR ENERGY HELPED KEEP THE LIGHTS ON AFTER HELENE, BUT NOT HOW YOU MIGHT THINK
OCT, 2024

Many in western North Carolina expected their solar installations to provide power during outages. However, without battery storage, these systems couldn't function independently from the grid. Organizations like Footprint Project addressed this gap by deploying portable solar units to power essential services in affected communities. This experience underscores the importance of integrating battery storage with solar systems to enhance resilience during power disruptions.

A SOLAR-POWERED MICROGRID “LENDING LIBRARY” COULD MAKE DISASTER RECOVERY GREENER
OCT, 2024

Footprint Project, a New Orleans-based nonprofit, deployed solar generators to support communities still without power in western North Carolina. At Barnardsville Elementary School, volunteers installed solar panels and battery packs to power the facility, which was serving as a donation hub. The organization has been collecting solar and battery donations from installers across the state and dispatching electrician teams to install and maintain them at no cost. This initiative ensures that affected areas have access to clean, reliable energy during recovery efforts.

NONPROFIT USES CLEAN ENERGY FOR HURRICAN RELIEF
NOV, 2024

Nearly two months after Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina, hundreds of people remain without power. Damaged infrastructure and inaccessible roads are making it tough to repair the downed lines, and leaders say it could take years to fully recover from the storm. A New Orleans-based nonprofit is stepping in to get some much-needed relief to people living in remote areas. Correspondent Jessica Gomez introduces us to the people behind the effort that’s using clean energy to help communities in crisis.

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