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By Shanteya Hudson
October 11, 2024
Savannah’s leaders are pointing out the ways federal dollars are being used to boost the area’s resilience against climate change.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, many residents are just now getting their power back after a week in the dark. Mayor Van Johnson said the storm has been a wakeup call for the urgent need to tackle climate change, and Savannah’s resilience plan is designed to do just that.
“In 2020, the city council unanimously adopted a 100% Savannah Initiative,” he said, “which means transitioning partially to clean energy in the 2030s and totally by 2050.”
Johnson said 75% of the city’s buildings are at risk of flooding, and 26% face wildfire threats. Despite these challenges, he noted that efforts to build climate resilience have boosted the local economy, with jobs popping up in solar energy, construction and renewable technology.
Savannah is part of a statewide initiative that recently received $156 million from the Solar for All program, part of the Inflation Reduction Act. This funding, spread across Georgia, aims to expand solar energy over the next five years.
Nicole Lee, CEO of Be Smart Home Solutions, said its efforts have already helped local families lower energy costs.
“The Thomases were our very first clients to get solar with the Georgia Bright Program,” she said. “They have seen savings of more than 50% on their power bills. Just this summer, they’ve seen a bill of $18 from solar plus storage.”
She said the solar system proved invaluable during Hurricane Helene, allowing them to power critical medical devices and even serve as a resiliency hub for their neighbors.
Chatham County Commissioner Aaron Whitley emphasized the importance of preparedness in the face of future storms, pointing to new projects aimed at enhancing community resilience.
“Chatham County is working on community resiliency hubs that will provide power during the outages like the ones we experienced last week,” he said.
Officials have said these efforts are also crucial to protect vulnerable communities from the health impacts of climate change. Other projects in the works include what’s known as beach “re-nourishment,” a drainage basin study, and forging more partnerships with other organizations to bolster the region’s preparedness.