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We have seen storms ravage the southern area of our country multiple times in just a few weeks. The weather patterns are expected to get even worse as the climate continues to warm. Millions of people are still left without power, even two weeks after the storms hit. This massive humanitarian crisis calls for a better solution. And renewable energy can successfully fill that role.

Natural Disasters Destroy the Grid

Residents in Florida who have solar and even solar-plus-storage systems were free and clear of any power problems. Of course, when the sun is not shining, it is much harder to get energy from solar. However, many people said that this was not a major problem, given the sun quickly returned.

The True Reliability of Renewable Energy

Even though people have dissed renewables because of their unreliability, the grid itself is getting much more unreliable. As shown in the aftermath of these horrendous hurricanes, the towns affected could not rely on the power grid. Power lines and entire utilities were destroyed and out of business. In Puerto Rico, for example, there is no clean water available because of the loss of the energy.

Renewables can handle much more damage and can recover much quicker. After the owners assess the damage on panels and turbines, energy generation can start back up as early as the day after the storm. Although panels and turbines have a large upfront cost, the benefit of having energy even after a natural disaster is worth the money.

The Future of Natural Disasters and a Natural Solution

Clearly, these towns could have used a good dose of renewable energy in their lives. The hope is that this will kickstart their local governments to invest in renewables not just for the next disaster, but for the good of the future. South Miami has started investing in solar. A Prime Minister from the Caribbean spoke in front of the U.N. to involved them in these efforts. The future looks bright, but the present day needs help to get back up on its feet.

Source: Grist