Electrify Asheville-Buncombe Offers Three Ways to Build Home Resilience for Post-Helene Recovery and Greater Energy Security

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 21, 2025

Solar Power, Battery Power and Portable Solar Generators Now Available
Through 60-Day Group Purchasing Campaign Created for Locals Only

Asheville, NC – Electrify Asheville-Buncombe has begun offering – for a limited time – three different solutions to bolster home energy resilience here in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene’s powerful impact on citizens in the City of Asheville and Buncombe County.

The offerings are the first set of resources available through a new Home Energy Resilience Cooperative, a community-based method of buying designed to aid residents in recovery and to lessen exposure to sporadic or long-term utility outages.

These resources, created by Electrify Asheville-Buncombe to exclusively provide local residents with high-quality clean energy and energy efficiency products and services, include:

Rooftop Solar+Battery: Locally-based installation firms have been vetted and are prepared to step up and serve the community through this cooperative effort to make these energy technology solutions more affordable and accessible. 

Adding solar plus battery storage means a property can generate and store its own energy, helping families become more secure and saving money on power bills. Homeowners can also take advantage of valuable incentives while they are available. 

In addition, through cooperative purchasing, a rebate package of options worth up to $250 will be available after an installation is completed.

Battery Backup Power: Efficient battery storage to make and keep power available for local residences when needed most is also offered through this buying program. This technology can be paired with new or existing rooftop solar systems or installed independently at properties where rooftop solar is not a viable option or is not being purchased at this time.

Portable Battery Backup Power: Through this new cooperative program, Electrify Asheville-Buncombe identified and worked with a major supplier of portable power units to help lower the ordinary retail cost of one of these home battery backup products locally.

Durable and portable, these units – which feature solar PV – are designed to provide less-than-whole-home power needs during an outage, including standby energy for small appliances, light fixtures, cell phone charging, etc. A portable solar generator is a compact system that captures sunlight through solar panels and stores it in a rechargeable battery.

The setup includes solar panels, a battery, a charge controller, and an inverter, offering clean, renewable energy for emergency backup. Built with rugged, high-quality materials for ease of transport and reliability, this unit is appropriate for those neither interested nor able to purchase a full-home backup battery. Certain rental units or residences may also benefit.

The first step for interested residents is to simply sign up here via Electrify Asheville-Buncombe. There is no obligation to request or receive a customized proposal for rooftop solar or solar+battery power. A Let’s Go Electric representative will assist in the process for free once enrolled.

A portable solar backup battery can be purchased directly here and shipped to wherever directed within the Asheville-Buncombe area.

More broadly, Electrify Asheville-Buncombe stands ready to support local homeowners via the Let’s Go Electric platform to help residents learn how best to transition to cleaner, more energy-efficient homes. Whether there’s an interest in solar energy, heat pumps, induction cooking, or other home electrification options, the Home Energy Navigator program offers free, personalized consultations to help make informed decisions for an individual property.

This no-cost program connects Asheville-Buncombe homeowners with specialized Navigators who will guide them through the process of electrifying their homes. Each free consultation begins with a 30-minute virtual meeting in which Navigators assess the homeowner’s needs and goals, point to potential financial incentives and offer a preliminary evaluation of a home’s electrification scenario.

These initiatives are the newest offering from a initiative that began last year to enable Asheville and Buncombe County residents to begin transitioning to clean energy options that benefit their households, reduce costs and support the community’s overall clean energy goal. 

Another way to learn more related financing offerings is to attend an upcoming virtual Financing & Incentives Webinar. From noon-1 p.m. on March 5, hear from representatives of Electrify Asheville-Buncombe and the North Carolina Clean Energy Fund about the latest in home electrification and solar financing, incentives and tax credits. RSVP for this free webinar here.

Homeowners can easily book a virtual consultation with this scheduling link, or reach out to hello@electrifyabc.com for assistance in scheduling. For general information, visit electrifyabc.com. 

Electrify Asheville-Buncombe is an innovative electrification program aimed at enabling active community participation in the City of Asheville and Buncombe County’s ambitious clean-energy goals, reducing household energy bills, and improving both health and home comfort. The program provides support to residents through access to participating local contractors offering efficient technology options, navigation of government purchase incentives, and access to energy audits and inclusive financing.