In the aftermath of Hurricane Helen, western North Carolina has been left reeling, with residents relying on gas generators to keep essential supplies, like insulin for diabetics, from spoiling. Bobby Renfro, a local resident in Tipton Hill, shared that he has hardly given his gas generator a break since he established a community resource hub in a vacant church. Renfro invested $1,200 in the generator, and he finds himself spending even more money on fuel from volunteers who traveled from Tennessee.
“This generator is our only source of power, and we can’t turn it off,” Renfro explained. “It’s what keeps our refrigerator running and ensures that our neighbors’ insulin doesn’t go bad. We also need it for oxygen machines and nebulizers to help those with breathing difficulties.”
Renfro expressed concern that outsiders may not understand their dire situation. “We’re stuck in the mountains without power or supplies, and fixing the electricity is a long process. It’s been quite a struggle,” he noted.
For residents like Renfro, using gas-powered generators has become a necessity for survival, but challenges abound. “Fuel is expensive, and the pollution is hazardous. Small household generators are only designed to run for a few hours or days, not for weeks or months,” he said.
Fortunately, assistance has started to roll in. This week, Renfro received a new, cleaner, quieter, and free-to-use generator from volunteers with the Footprint Project, in collaboration with a local solar installation company. The new solar generator features six 245-watt solar panels, a 24-volt battery, and an inverter, now installed outside the community building on a grassy hillside.
“I hope this gives our community some comfort and a sense of security, knowing that ‘there’s some power now,’” Renfro said.
The Footprint Project is ramping up its support in response to the disaster by installing sustainable, mobile infrastructure. They have deployed several larger solar microgrids, solar generators, and machines that extract moisture from the air, currently set up at 33 locations, along with dozens of smaller mobile battery systems.
