In Dystopian Weather, H-E-B Is Keeping Its Lights on in Creative Ways

On average, Houston enjoys over 200 sunny days each year, with annual temperatures fluctuating between highs of around 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and the low 90s in the summer. While the mild climate is a major draw for Texas residents and visitors alike, this Gulf Coast state is no stranger to inclement weather.

Microgrids Held for More Than a Week Amid Hurricane Beryl’s Power Outages

This past summer, Houston residents came face-to-face with the failures of their existing power grid. Hurricane Beryl, a category 1 storm, left most of the city in the dark. Those reliant on the power grid lost electricity almost immediately, and even people with diesel generators quickly realized there wasn’t enough fuel.

Storm Power Outages and the Need for Distributed Energy

The city of Houston bore the brunt of Hurricane Beryl this past summer, resulting in a loss of electricity for millions of people who were fully reliant on a power grid system that took time to repair. Residents turned to diesel-powered generators to keep medicine and food intact, but generators quickly ran out, and fuel became scarce.

Keeping the Lights On: How Enchanted Rock Is Helping Californians

California has seen more than its share of natural disasters in the past few years. The high risk of fires that burn through acres of land, as well as the coastal storms that flood other areas, can leave hundreds of thousands of people without electricity and running water.

Resilience: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against the Effects of Climate Change

Climate change is making the electrical grid vulnerable to extreme weather events. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has noted that weather patterns are shifting, particularly with Tornado Alley extending further east and winter storms happening more frequently in places like California and Texas.

Building Resiliency in a Time of Unpredictability: How a New Power Plant Is Helping California Residents Keep the Lights On

California officials are excited to announce the opening of a new power plant in Northeast Modesto, right next to the Modesto Irrigation District substation. With a high electrical capacity of 48 megawatts, officials believe that this plant, along with similar plants in Patterson and Lodi, can serve as the answer to California’s need to induce rolling outages when summer heat waves hit the state.

Microgrids Are Bridging the Gap for Data Centers Grappling With Big Power Demands

Microgrids are growing in popularity nationwide as a way for municipalities to build more resilient grid systems. These smaller-scale power solutions pack a big punch, operating independently from the grid to generate electricity for local residents when their municipal systems shut down due to a surge in electricity needs.