resilience – California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Solar energy largely unscathed by Hurricane Florence’s wind and rain

September 21, 2018

“In North Carolina, the #2 solar state, Florence was the first extreme weather test for much of its renewable energy. Nuclear and coal ash had flood problems.” Click here to read more from Inside Climate News.

Mapping Fire Risk and Planning for Recovery in Sonoma County

September 6, 2018

Sarina Soor

disaster, resilience, wildfires

No Comments

“In the State of California, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CALFIRE, maps Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on fuels, terrain, weather, and other relevant factors. These areas are classified into three zones: Moderate, High, and Very High. While CALFIRE data provide an essential baseline for assessing and mapping fire hazard zones, the…

Building resilience with microgrids and smart energy

July 26, 2018

Sarina Soor

building design, fuel cells, microgrids, renewable energy, resilience, smart energy, storage

No Comments

“In some regions, electric grids have increased capacity, become more reliable, much better at integrating distributed renewables, smarter and more resilient. In other places, serious investment is needed to reduce the risk of failure in storms and malfunctions that cause everything from wildfires to millions living for days in darkness. Microgrids are a growing part…

Moody’s gives regulated utilities a negative outlook for the first time

June 29, 2018

Sarina Soor

resilience, tax bill, utilties

No Comments

“For the first time since it began rating sectors, Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded its overall outlook of the U.S. utility sector. The rating agency dropped credit from stable to negative for 24 utilities and from positive to stable for one utility, American Electric Power Company. Moody’s said the change reflects uncertainties from the tax…

How energy efficiency can contribute to resilient rebuilding

June 7, 2018

Sarina Soor

energy efficiency, resilience

No Comments

“The Atlantic hurricane season is just beginning, and experts are predicting another active year. With that forecast and last year’s devastating storms in mind, many are calling for a rebuilding strategy that reduces the risk of repeated devastation by building more resilient communities. Energy efficiency should be a central component of that strategy. Its technologies…

Indicators of Climate Change in California

May 10, 2018

Sarina Soor

adaptation, california, climate change, resilience

No Comments

From record temperatures to proliferating wildfires and rising seas, climate change poses an immediate and escalating threat to California’s environment, public health, and economic vitality. Recent climate-related events – such as the devastating 2017 wildfires and the recordsetting 2012-16 drought – have highlighted the challenges that confront the state as its climate continues to evolve.…

UC Irvine Coastal Resilience Workshop – July 18-19

May 4, 2018

Sarina Soor

climate change, resilience, sea level rise

No Comments

Blue Earth Consultants (Blue Earth), a Division of Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG), is coordinating the fourth annual coastal resilience workshop at UCI on July 18th-19th, 2018. The workshop is sponsored by UCI, through the Empowering Sustainability Initiative, UCI Oceans, and the Newkirk Center for Science and Society. Building on the success of the workshops…

Advanced energy programs and strategies in the North Bay Community Resilience Initiative – May 24

April 26, 2018

Sarina Soor

microgrid, north bay community resilience initiative, resilience

No Comments

The second webinar on the North Bay Community Resilience Initiative will feature Rachel Kuykendall of Sonoma Clean Power and John Sarter of Microgrid Development Group. They will cover: -The Advanced Energy Rebuild program for the North Bay, a joint effort of Sonoma Clean Power, Pacific Gas & Electric, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management…

Business Resiliency Workshop: Sonora – Apr. 25

April 20, 2018

Sarina Soor

resilience

No Comments

At the half-day Disaster-Proof Your Business workshop, specifically focused on wildfire, you will learn how to prepare your people, your operations, and your assets before disaster strikes. Join us, and learn how to: Understand your risks and your environment -Assess your readiness -Take action -Update and test your resilience plan -Engage with community resiliency efforts…

Residential storage faces sunny prospects this year

April 13, 2018

Sarina Soor

energy storage, renewable energy, resilience, storage

No Comments

“GTM Research predicts that the market for U.S. residential storage will grow fourfold in 2018, Simon said. GTM recorded 19 MW of residential energy storage installations in 2017 and expects to see 74 MW in 2018. Most of that growth – about 95% – will be storage tied to a solar power installation, but large…

How to ensure resilience in the grid of the future

April 13, 2018

Sarina Soor

grid, microgrid, resilience

No Comments

“A low-carbon world is an electrified world. But electricity has an Achilles heel: it is vulnerable. And will become more so as digitalization progresses and extreme weather increases, notes Mark Byrne of the Total Environment Centre in Australia. To reduce vulnerability, Byrne believes we need to create a system of enmeshed micro-grids. Keywords: “mutual interdependence”.”…

The North Bay Community Resilience Initiative gains traction

March 29, 2018

Sarina Soor

microgirds, natural disasters, resilience

No Comments

“Late last year, the neighborhood of Coffey Park was devastated by the unprecedented Napa and Sonoma County wildfires. The neighborhood of about 7,300 residents saw over 1,300 homes destroyed. The fires wiped out 5% of the housing stock in Santa Rosa and many more structures in the surrounding communities, tragically killing 44 people. A more…

Seven cities receive technical assistance to meet resiliency goals

March 29, 2018

Sarina Soor

resilience, resiliency, technical assistance

No Comments

“Each city will receive $10,000 in direct financial support, as well as technical assistance and professional development opportunities to help them meet community-specific resiliency goals. The seven cities selected for the 2018 Leadership in Community Resilience Program are: Birmingham, Ala.a; Bozeman, Mont.; Durango, Colo.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Kingston, N.Y.; Nashua, N.H.; and San Leandro, Calif. NLC…

US Army targets energy resiliency through microgrid projects

March 29, 2018

Sarina Soor

army, microgrids, national security, resilience, resiliency

No Comments

“The US Army is using clean energy projects to begin targeting resiliency through microgrids. They have a host of projects that were set up initially to kickstart the transition to a clean energy economy, but they are trying to convert those projects to be more focused on a direct resiliency contribution for the Army. They…

Power Up: Residential Energy Efficiency and Resiliency – Mar 22

March 16, 2018

Sarina Soor

natural disasters, resilience

No Comments

Following a natural disaster there are numerous demands on state and local governments from health and safety to transportation. Fortunately, energy efficiency can strengthen communities through increased resiliency both during and after a natural disaster. On this Better Buildings Residential Network Peer Exchange Call, our speakers will share their experiences and explore the ways in…