ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on western North Carolina’s largest city, many Asheville residents are still rebuilding — and determined to be better prepared for the next weather disaster.
In Emma, a diverse, mostly immigrant neighborhood just northwest of downtown, solar energy is playing a key role in that work, offering not only a backstop for the next grid outage but also lower utility bills year-round.
Earlier this month, residents, clean energy workers, and organizers gathered to celebrate the latest addition to Emma’s growing solar capacity: a 46-kilowatt array on the rooftop of the community and cultural center owned by La Esperanza (“the hope” in Spanish), a neighborhood real estate co-op formed in 2019.
La Esperanza is one of many organizations and co-ops within Poder Emma, an alliance that has worked to fight displacement and ensure affordable housing in this low-income community for nearly two decades. The 100-plus panels atop the center — a gathering place for celebrations, workshops, and other functions — will lower electricity bills for Poder (meaning “power”), reducing the amount of energy it draws from the grid.
The project was made possible by a host of partners that contributed time, money, and expertise. Most came together in the immediate aftermath of Helene, when mobile solar-powered charging stations proved vital for Emma’s recovery.
