The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s State Energy Office is launching a new initiative to strengthen the state’s disaster resilience by investing $5 million in permanent and mobile microgrids. The project, developed in partnership with Land of Sky Regional Council, NC Sustainable Energy Association, Footprint Project, and other regional organizations, will provide accessible power during weather-related emergencies.
The funding comes from a $10.4 million federal allocation through the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act over five years. Of this amount, half will support the Microgrid Initiative. Up to 24 stationary microgrids are planned for installation across six counties affected by Hurricane Helene, while two mobile “Beehive” microgrid hubs will be stationed in Western and Eastern North Carolina to serve communities statewide.
“Hurricane Helene showed us that we need to be prepared to withstand severe weather emergencies. That means rebuilding our energy infrastructure with resilience in mind,” said Governor Josh Stein. “This investment will better connect western North Carolina to the rest of the state, and it will improve our ability to keep people safe and respond to future disasters.”
“This initiative represents a leap forward in how we prepare for and respond to disasters,” said Reid Wilson, DEQ Secretary. “Thousands of families were isolated without power and communications after Helene struck. The microgrids will provide essential power supplies and will serve as community resilience hubs in both times of crisis and under normal conditions.”
“Hurricane Helene taught me that we must reimagine how our communities prepare and respond. These microgrids were lifelines during the storm and have the ability to serve our region every day. By combining renewable energy with local partnerships, we’re creating resilient infrastructure that can keep critical services running when the grid goes down,” said Sara Nichols, Energy and Economic Development Manager at Land of Sky Regional Council.
“This year we updated the North Carolina Energy Security Plan, which identifies microgrids as a key way to mitigate impacts from disturbances to the electric grid,” said Julie Woosley, SEO Director. “A microgrid can enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure in our state by providing a localized, reliable, and flexible energy system that can operate independently or in coordination with the main power grid. This is a cost-effective way to meet local energy needs during outages and provide supplemental energy during peak times. The State Energy Office is glad to be able to provide funding for this initiative to show the value of these systems to our communities.”
Land of Sky Regional Council plans to purchase mobile beehive microgrids soon, with stakeholder engagement for installations scheduled for September 2025; site selection begins later that fall with completion expected by June 2027.
Microgrids generate their own solar electricity paired with battery storage so they can supply power during outages or help reduce blackouts due to high demand on the main grid system. They also allow integration with traditional grids for improved diversity and innovation while lowering long-term energy costs.
Mobile Beehive Microgrid Hubs are intended as lending libraries so community organizations can access solar-and-battery equipment at no cost for emergency preparedness or response purposes.
Site selection decisions will involve stakeholders from emergency management agencies, utilities, community groups, and local governments who will also consider ownership models and long-term operations planning. Over $1 million worth of clean technology equipment has already been donated toward this effort.
For more information about Land of Sky Regional Council visit landofsky.org; details about NC Sustainable Energy Association are available at energync.org/; learn more about Footprint Project at footprintproject.org; further information about NC Department of Environmental Quality can be found at deq.nc.gov; information regarding DEQ State Energy Office is at deq.nc.gov/state-energy-office.
