Transcript:
When climate disasters knock out power from the grid, people often rely on gas or diesel generators for power.
But these generators are loud and smelly. They also pollute the air. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, many people are running generators after Hurricane Maria…
Heegaard: “…localized air pollution exceeds EPA safety limits.”
Will Heegaard works with the Footprint Project. The nonprofit helps provide cleaner, quieter energy to disaster-affected communities by building portable power systems that run on solar panels and batteries.
In some cases, Project Footprint deploys small solar generators to homes that need to operate medical equipment.
Heegaard: “So oxygen concentrators, CPAP, insulin refrigerators…power wheelchairs or accessible equipment.”
They also provide larger mobile microgrids for schools, churches, and other facilities that serve as disaster relief centers.
Over the past two years, they've helped after wildfires in Hawaii, tornadoes in Mississippi and hurricanes in North Carolina, Florida and elsewhere.
Therefore, recovery tools do not cause more harm to communities that are already suffering.
Report source: Sarah Kennedy/ChavoBart Digital Media
Only 28% of U.S. residents regularly hear about climate change in the media, but 77% want to know more. By 2025, you can show Americans more climate news.
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