100% solar community defies hurricane, stays lit

Approximately 12 miles northeast of Fort Myers, FL is a small community that calls itself “America’s first solar-powered town.”

Supposedly this two thousand home planned community has a huge solar panel array that produces more electricity than it uses.

When hurricane Ian came along, it tore into neighboring areas with record breaking storm surge and 100+ mph winds, it caused a power outage to more than 2.6 million homes including 90% of the homes in the county Babcock Ranch was located in.

That’s why the story is so incredible…

Babcock Ranch kept its lights on throughout the ordeal.

The story:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/02/us/solar-babcock-ranch-florida-hurricane-ian-climate/index.html

Now, I bring this story up because, to me, it seems that natural disasters have a funny way of knocking power out. We may not be subject to hurricanes like Ian, but we sure do get some wicked good storm cells that can really tear stuff up.

All it takes is a brittle palo verde tree to snap off in the wind and knock down a power line. Those with power supplied by that line might suffer an outage that last for several (or more) days until TEP crews can get it fixed.

Granted TEP crews are actually very impressive in their speed and productivity when it comes to emergencies like this, but if it takes long enough that the fridge fails to keep the food fresh, things could be kind of nasty.

Not to mention the lack of air conditioning as a result of a summer monsoon can make a home quite decidedly unlivable until power (and therefore the AC) is restored.

Having a home solar power system with a battery could be all the difference in any scenario where a temporary or worse- extended power outage might happen.

Babcock Ranch sure was happy with their local solar power system that was able to operate independently from the rest of Florida Power and Light’s grid.

Just some food for thought when thinking about a battery for that solar power system you are considering for your Tucson home.

Speaking of that, if you are looking into solar power for your Tucson home you might consider grabbing a copy of my upcoming book Tucson Solar Insider Desk Guide for Buying Solar when it is released. Click here to get on the notification list.

 

Be Good!

Curtis