SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- A Santa Barbara non-profit called The Clean Coalition is trying to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and a modern power grid.
The organization is focused on using solar energy to generate electricity.
When the Thomas Fire broke out in late 2017, followed immediately by the Montecito Mudslide, Craig Lewis realized how vulnerable his hometown was to natural disasters.
“I think lives would have been saved in the disasters that hit Santa Barbara if we had the proliferation of solar micro-grids, because people know they have a place to go and they go there,” said the Founder of The Clean Coalition Craig Lewis.
Lewis is the founder of The Clean Coalition, a non-profit dedicated to expanding the use of solar power in Santa Barbara County.
He says that when solar energy and batteries are combined, a system called a solar micro-grid is created.
Lewis said this allows buildings, such as a house, to stay online even if the grid goes down.
“If you think about it, electricity drives everything. You can’t get water in your house without electricity because electricity is used for the pumps that distribute water in a city. You can’t pump the your gas when there is no electricity.” Lewis said.
In emergency situations like power outages, people can still keep food cold in the refrigerator, or even stay connected to their phone and online.
“We need the tools to communicate with the outside world when disaster strikes,” Lewis said.
The Clean Coalition is working to spread solar technology through Santa Barbara County schools.
Currently the Santa Barbara Unified School District has 14 sites with solar energy.
Six of these locations have solar micro grids, so critical power is never lost.
“We hope these solar panels are an example of the environmental benefits everyone can do throughout the community,” said Ed Zuchelli of the SB Unified School District.
The founder of The Clean Coalition also explains how solar micro-grids can save lives.
They can maintain emergency equipment in hospitals, shelters and fire stations.
