Houston’s Recent Storms are a Wake-Up Call for Investing in More Off-Grid Renewable Power Options

On May 16, 2024, a trifecta of storms devastated Houston with thunderstorms, hurricane-force winds and a tornado. The catastrophic impact left eight people dead and several more injured. In the aftermath, 1 million people were left without power for several days while managing high temperatures of 90 degrees with a heat index approaching 100 degrees. 

Clean Mobile Power Solution as an Alternative to Fossil-Fuel Generators

Following power outages, most often residents and businesses will resort to power generators, which can be life saving; however, they can also be deadly. One death following the recent Houston storm included a man who died from carbon monoxide poisoning while running a generator after his power went out. In response, Fire Chief Samuel Pena called carbon monoxide a silent killer that follows storms, and he warned people to use power generators safely. Pena said the fire department has responded to 80 carbon monoxide incidents following this recent storm, including one incident in which four children were hospitalized by the gas given off by a generator. 

So, what are the safer alternatives to power generators? 

One solution is Sesame Solar’s Renewable Mobile Nanogrid. Fueled by solar + green hydrogen + battery storage, these Mobile Nanogrids bring power and essential services when and where needed, and are easily set up by 1 person in less than 15 minutes. They provide a continuous loop of reliable, renewable energy—like an energy-independent power plant—so there are no supply logistics or downtime like there are with fossil fuel. These Nanogrids operate in all weather conditions and have up to 150 square feet of interior space to be used for anything from a mobile medical hub to a communications hub, a cooling or warming center or a mobile office. Sesame's Mobile Nanogrids are fast to deploy, easy to use and flexible for dozens of use cases.  ‍

Climate Resilience for Economic Justice Communities

As of a week following the storms, thousands in Houston still remained without power, and according to Harris County Commissioner Lesely Briones, the deadly storms had a severe impact on many lower-income residents. 

One such neighborhood that is often vulnerable to weather disasters is Independence Heights. Located in Northern Houston, Independence Heights was the first city incorporated by a black community in the State of Texas. Today the community is home to around 14,000 residents of diverse backgrounds who have come together to continue working for economic justice within their region, especially following weather disasters. 50% of the community is in a flood zone, which is compounded by the improper construction of I-45 highway culvers, which flood during moderate precipitation, with more intense impacts during extreme weather. The community has been underserved with city, state and federal emergency response services after weather disasters, and are still recovering and rebuilding from the impacts of Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

So, what is the solution for these economic justice communities that are overburdened and underserved in the face of increasing weather and climate impacts? 

True to their mission, Independence Heights has taken steps to become more independent and resilient to disasters through emergency preparedness training. Sesame Solar has been working with Dr. Atyia Martin of The Black Resilience Network and Tanya Dubose of the Independence Heights Redevelopment Council to raise funds to establish a Sesame Solar Renewable Mobile Nanogrid as a Hub for Disaster Preparedness and Response in Independence Heights. 

The goal of this Mobile Nanogrid is to:

• speed emergency response in this underserved community using Sesame Solar’s Mobile Nanogrids,
• reduce operating costs by using fossil-fuel-free power, 
• help save the planet, and 
• create a sustainable economic model for community disaster response by generating good jobs, multiple streams of revenue including emergency deployment teams, Nanogrid rentals, EV charging income, and corporate sponsorships recognized on the Nanogrid’s billboard-sized walls. 

According to FEMA, as the frequency of natural disasters continues to increase, so does the disproportionate risk exposure for socially vulnerable communities. There is an urgent need for reliable, renewably-powered solutions to make a difference now. Sesame Solar hopes to work with other communities, like Independence Heights, to create a climate resilience plan that can be replicated for all disadvantaged communities. Over the last 5 years, the U.S. has spent $600 Billion dollars on weather disasters—and 560 weather disasters are expected to happen every year by 2030. The recent storms in Houston are a wake up call that we can no longer postpone investing in more renewable, off-grid power options for vulnerable communities.

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