06/15/2026
Solar panels are useless when the grid goes down—unless you have the right battery storage to back them up.
A lot of homeowners make this mistake. They assume installing solar panels automatically means they are safe from blackouts. But if your system is grid-tied without batteries, your power goes down right along with the utility grid.
That was the harsh reality for a vital community hub, Firestorm Books, in Asheville, NC, when Hurricane Helene hit in 2024. Despite having a brand-new solar array on the roof, they were left completely in the dark. They couldn't charge rescue tools, keep the lights on after dark, or protect perishable medications for the 5,000 neighbors they were trying to help.
To ensure they never face that vulnerability again, they partnered with the non-profit Footprint Project to build a fully independent solar microgrid. At Briggs & Stratton Energy Solutions, we were honored to donate the advanced battery storage technology required to make them 100% self-sufficient.
"We’ve donated batteries for years to help people and organizations recover from disasters and operate off grid," says Sequoya Cross, VP of Energy Storage. "Our batteries have been used around the world for more than a decade in some of the harshest and most remote environments, so they’ve proven themselves to be the reliable, dependable choice."
True energy resilience isn't just about catching the sun; it's about having the proven storage to keep the lifelines active when the grid fails. Whether it's a community center or your family home, don't leave your power to chance.
Read the full story on Solar Power World to see the power of true resilience:
On September 27, 2024, the remnants of Hurricane Helene hit Asheville, North Carolina. The devastating storm caused historic flooding, triggered