Florida solar-and-battery homes maintain power during hurricanes

In the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, a residential development in Cortez, Florida, demonstrated the resilience of microgrid technology. The Hunters Point community, consisting of 86 homes, maintained continuous power through rooftop solar panels and garage-based battery storage while surrounding areas experienced massive utility outages.

The neighborhood functions as a microgrid, generating more than 98% of its own electricity. This decentralized approach allows communities to manage their own power generation rather than relying solely on centralized plants and long-distance transmission lines. While microgrids currently supply less than 1% of electricity in the United States, their adoption is increasing as a method for improving energy reliability and potential long-term cost savings.