Latest News
Puerto Rico needs reliable, self-sustaining power in the wake of hurricanes
Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Puerto Rico on Sunday, Sept. 18, ripping down power lines and deluging the island with flash floods and mudslides. Puerto Rico’s entire population lost power, and roughly ⅓ lost running water. This comes just five years after Hurricane Maria swept through, killing about 3,000 people and leaving many [...]
A looming copper shortage could stall the renewable energy transition
Transitioning to renewable energy is an increasingly necessary step in combating climate change. But there’s a catch—a limited supply of input metals—particularly copper, a keystone metal for all renewable technologies. Reaching the goals of the Paris climate agreement would quadruple mineral demand by 2040, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s latest report. [...]
Renewable energy generates a record 28% of electricity in the United States
Even before the Inflation Reduction Act came into play, renewable energy in the United States was breaking records. The amount of electricity generated by renewable energy hit a record 28% in April, demonstrating the growing importance of renewable energy in the U.S. energy markets. Wind, solar and hydroelectric dams produced only 8.6% of [...]
Resilient power for emergency: Untethering first responders from unreliable backup power
Electricity is the backbone of modern society. It propels us through our everyday life by powering our devices, our homes and our businesses. Without it, we’re left in the dark. There are several causes of outages, with severe weather being the leading reason. Hurricanes have caused nine out of the top 10 power [...]
Freeing energy from the grid
The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to disrupt trade and production, exerting a drag on the global economy while pushing up inflation. The World Bank forecasts a rise in food and energy prices for the next three years, with Americans already feeling prices at the gas pump with a national average of $4.68 [...]
Race car mechanic turned composite designer
Professional race car mechanic – an unexpected profession for one of our Windlift employees. In college, Brayden Summerlin earned a degree in race car building. While Brayden is a car enthusiast, he decided composite design was the lane he wanted to stay in. As a composite technician, he now spends his time at [...]
Offshore wind energy could bring over $140 billion to North Carolina
North Carolina is known for its exceptional solar capabilities, but what about its wind energy? Recent advancements in wind energy technology have made wind energy an economical and reliable source of power in North Carolina and throughout the Southeast. Wind energy can help combat climate change while creating high-paying jobs in manufacturing [...]
Solar continues to soar in North Carolina
Renewable energy abounds in North Carolina. North Carolina is first in the South and fourth in the nation for solar power generation, with solar comprising 8% of the state’s electricity mix. While the state has only one major wind farm on land, powerful offshore winds have enough power to meet the state’s energy [...]