When
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 to Friday, May 3, 2024
Solar Trailer En Route to General Conference
4/29/2024
North Georgia United Methodists and UMCOR have the privilege of introducing the Disaster Response Solar Trailer to delegates and visitors to the General Conference. The trailer is en route to Charlotte today and will be on display April 30 and May 1 in the Layby area by the main entrance of the Convention Center.
Visitors to the trailer can learn about the practical applications of solar energy in disaster response scenarios. Device charging stations and complimentary coffee, brewed using solar energy, will be also available to visitors. The coffee is courtesy of Deep Time Coffee, a Fresh Expression ministry in the Western North Carolina Conference.
The trailer will be open 7:30 am-7 pm both days, with North Georgia Conference ERTs and trailer technical experts Chris Hanson and Tom Staigle, as well as Rev. Scott Parrish, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator and Mission Specialist, on hand for much of the time.
“We never dreamed we'd have this sort of asset available for our disaster relief efforts. It's truly a powerhouse that makes us more versatile, and more useful in disaster response ministries,” said Rev. Scott Parrish, North Georgia's Mission and Disaster Response Specialist. “It's the power of partnerships that makes this incredible mobile power grid available to serve our communities after a disaster.”
A coalition of partners unveiled the solar microgrid trailer in late 2023: The United Methodist Committee on Relief, the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, the Footprint Project, and Cherry Street Energy.
This solar microgrid trailer, which provides clean power, is easily towed to where it is needed most during an emergency—to power cell phones, Wi-Fi, refrigeration, lighting, medical devices, and other critical services.
"In times of disaster, gaining access to a source of power is one of the most essential yet challenging parts of response and recovery,” shared Roland Fernandes, chief executive for Global Ministries (GBGM) and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). "This trailer is a transportable eco-friendly energy source that provides vital emergency power without the environmental damage caused by traditional fossil fuels."
Visitors to the trailer can learn about the practical applications of solar energy in disaster response scenarios. Device charging stations and complimentary coffee, brewed using solar energy, will be also available to visitors. The coffee is courtesy of Deep Time Coffee, a Fresh Expression ministry in the Western North Carolina Conference.
The trailer will be open 7:30 am-7 pm both days, with North Georgia Conference ERTs and trailer technical experts Chris Hanson and Tom Staigle, as well as Rev. Scott Parrish, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator and Mission Specialist, on hand for much of the time.
“We never dreamed we'd have this sort of asset available for our disaster relief efforts. It's truly a powerhouse that makes us more versatile, and more useful in disaster response ministries,” said Rev. Scott Parrish, North Georgia's Mission and Disaster Response Specialist. “It's the power of partnerships that makes this incredible mobile power grid available to serve our communities after a disaster.”
A coalition of partners unveiled the solar microgrid trailer in late 2023: The United Methodist Committee on Relief, the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, the Footprint Project, and Cherry Street Energy.
This solar microgrid trailer, which provides clean power, is easily towed to where it is needed most during an emergency—to power cell phones, Wi-Fi, refrigeration, lighting, medical devices, and other critical services.
"In times of disaster, gaining access to a source of power is one of the most essential yet challenging parts of response and recovery,” shared Roland Fernandes, chief executive for Global Ministries (GBGM) and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). "This trailer is a transportable eco-friendly energy source that provides vital emergency power without the environmental damage caused by traditional fossil fuels."