Natural disasters can strike anywhere, often displacing communities and leaving them needing critical resources. In response, many communities are turning public buildings and houses of worship into resilience hubs—safe gathering places equipped to provide essentials like energy, food, and water. These hubs offer immediate shelter and help communities recover more quickly from disasters, reducing strain on recovery efforts.
Currently, 278 resilience hubs operate across 34 states in the U.S. and one province in Canada.
A resilience hub is more than just a temporary shelter; it’s a lifeline that provides energy, food, water, and other necessities during times of crisis. Solar energy and battery storage are pivotal in this model, ensuring power is available to support critical needs, from running medical devices to preserving food and medication. Resilience hubs help alleviate the burden on emergency responders and give communities the tools to bounce back faster.
Solar United Neighbors (SUN) recently partnered with ReImagine Appalachia to host a webinar on resilience hubs. The webinar mainly focused on the potential of solar energy and storage solutions in historically fossil-fuel-dependent regions like Appalachia. Solar power, with its quieter, lower-maintenance benefits, can provide reliable backup during outages—an essential feature for resilience hubs.
Several areas are already seeing the benefits of resilience hubs. For instance, a local community organization in Texas turned three homes into hubs by installing solar panels, battery storage, and emergency supplies. In Puerto Rico, a local church that has long supported disaster-affected residents recently added solar panels with the help of SUN’s fundraising efforts. These projects demonstrate concrete steps communities can take to improve disaster preparedness and response.
"Communities can help protect themselves, and others, by transforming into resilience hubs," said Dori Wolfe, Houston Area Co-op Coordinator for SUN. But building these hubs requires investment in supplies, equipment, and solar installations. With solar installations costing upwards of $24,000, and battery storage prices ranging up to $20,000, it can be daunting for communities to take on these projects. Fortunately, initiatives like the Appalachian Solar Finance Fund are available to provide both financial support and expert guidance.
"There are a lot of resources available. Places like faith institutions can get help with development and financing," said Autumn Long, director of the Appalachian Solar Finance Fund. "There’s a lot of interest from Appalachian communities in engaging with this support."
As the demand for resilience hubs grows, so does the need for solar energy solutions that are accessible to all communities, particularly low- and moderate-income (LMI) families. That’s where SUN’s recent partnership with Energy Allies comes into play. This collaboration will combine over two decades of experience to expand solar access nationwide, focusing on helping LMI families benefit from solar energy.
Energy Allies brings expertise in community solar projects, with a model focused on giving climate-impacted communities a voice in their energy future. “The community ownership piece is less important than the fact that communities have a say in how clean energy is deployed,” said Yesenia Rivera, Executive Director of Energy Allies and SUN’s new VP of Energy and Equity Inclusion. Whether through community-owned systems or partnerships with developers, the goal is to ensure that these communities see benefits beyond lower costs—such as job creation and economic growth.
The potential for community solar to democratize energy access is immense, particularly for LMI families who may not own their homes or have access to suitable roofs for solar installations. "Community solar has the potential to be the most democratic form of energy; it can be accessible to anyone," said Rivera. However, the policy remains a significant barrier. Not every state allows for community solar, and many lack the right incentives to ensure LMI families can participate.
As part of SUN, Energy Allies is well-positioned to help overcome these challenges. By leveraging SUN’s network of solar supporters nationwide, they can advocate for policy changes that expand solar access to all. “I’m excited to work with them to expand solar access,” Rivera said.
