Turn to solar power to keep lights on in hurricane season
Lately, every year is record-breaking.
In Florida and across the Caribbean, we can still feel the effects of last year’s hurricanes. Nearly 10 million people lost power across Florida and millions more in the Caribbean. Estimates suggest Hurricane Irma cost Florida between $25 billion to $65 billion.
A huge portion of these costs is related to blackouts. More than 70 percent of America’s transmission lines and large power transformers are at least 25 years old. This aging system often fails during extreme events, and will inevitably need to be replaced at a huge cost to consumers. It’s time for us to take power into our own hands by harnessing existing assets and using our own rooftops to produce affordable, clean, reliable energy for everyone. Here are my suggestions:
■ Decentralize to stabilize. We need to use the decentralized assets already at our fingertips. We must put power directly where it’s used: solar power on roofs and batteries in garages.
■ Take advantage of falling costs. We can build an affordable and resilient energy system. While the price of retail electricity continues to rise, the cost of both home solar and battery storage has fallen considerably; from 2010 to 2015, the price of retail electricity rose 10 percent, but the price to install a residential solar system fell by more than 50 percent. Home solar can reduce the need for utility spending binges on unnecessary, outdated infrastructure.
■ Go beyond kits and plans. We need to rethink “emergency preparedness.” Emergency kits and evacuation plans are a good start, but we need a more proactive approach. Let’s look to home batteries and solar.
■ Start now. This can’t wait. The need to upgrade and maintain our energy infrastructure is still significant.
Embracing this technology not only empowers and protects homeowners but also acts as a boon to local economies. There are a quarter million high-quality solar jobs nationwide, with more than 2,000 in Florida alone. By investing in home solar and batteries, Floridians will be prepared for the next time extreme weather strikes — and create more jobs and cleaner air in the process.
LYNN JURICH, Editor’s note: Lynn Jurich is chief executive officer and cofounder of Sunrun, the nation’s largest dedicated provider of residential solar, storage and energy services.