New Wine Christian Fellowship church in LaPlace underwent its first real-world test as a solar-powered Community Lighthouse during Hurricane Francine. (Photo credit: Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)
LAPLACE — An ongoing experiment to use solar-powered community “lighthouse” hubs as reliable sources of energy and refuge during blackouts passed its first real-world test this month with Hurricane Francine.
The Category 2 storm struck the coast of Terrebonne Parish on Sept. 11 and knocked out power to nearly a half-million customers statewide. The following morning, Together Louisiana’s so-called “community lighthouses” continued running their lights and air conditioners as usual and opened their doors to the public.
All 10 of the project sites — nine in New Orleans and one in LaPlace — were up and running. The lighthouses are located in churches, community centers and other buildings outfitted with commercial-scale solar and battery storage designed to operate at any time day or night, regardless of the status of the electrical grid.