Brighten The Corner Where You Are: New Solar Microgrid Trailer Unveiled

The North Georgia Conference has the great privilege of being invited into a partnership that will allow our United Methodist ERTs (Early Response Teams) to deploy a solar trailer to communities in times of disaster. (Read the announcement on UMCmission.org.)

Powered By Partnership
A coalition of partners came together this year to make disaster response more sustainable in Georgia through the building of solar microgrid trailers that serve as mobile solar power stations to provide clean and portable power. These solar trailers, which are easily towed to where they are needed most, can power cell phones, Wi-Fi, refrigeration, lighting, medical devices, and other critical services.

A brand new solar trailer, powerful enough to charge an electric vehicle, was officially unveiled at the ninth annual Ray Day event on Sunday, Oct. 15, at Serenbe in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia. RayDay celebrates the life and legacy of Ray C. Anderson, an industrialist turned environmentalist, and brings people together, encourages conversations and connections, and spreads the word about sustainability.

The partners were all on hand to celebrate at this special event. 

The Ray C. Anderson Foundation provided financial support. Cherry Street Energy donated the solar panels for the microgrid and coordinated the trailer build with Footprint Project. The North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will use the trailer for disaster response. The trailer was built in Madison, Georgia. Georgia Tech students (Ray C Anderson Center for Sustainable Business) have even developed software that will help us track usage.

Brighten The Corner Where You Are
On Saturday, North Georgia Conference staff, key ERT, disaster response leaders, and UMCOR/UMC Global Ministries staff gathered to take part in training on how to operate the trailer. 

“In times of disaster, gaining access to a source of power is one of the most essential yet challenging parts of response and recovery,” said Roland Fernandes, Global Ministries’ chief executive. “Thanks to this partnership, responders in Georgia will be able to bring their own environmentally sustainable power source with them, providing vital emergency power without the environmental damage caused by traditional fossil fuels.” 

Following RayDay, the trailer will be staged with the North Georgia Conference Disaster Response Ministry. 

"Our United Methodist ERT volunteers are some of our denomination's best models of connectional collaboration. When need arises, our disaster response ministry mobilizes and responds," said Rev. Blair Boyd Zant, North Georgia Conference Director of Connectional Ministries and of the Center for Congregational Excellence. "This solar trailer is the perfect example of what we look like at our best: key partners contributing critical resources to create something that will be both a practical aid and a visible sign of hope to someone on their worst day. We are deeply grateful to the Ray C Anderson Foundation and to the Footprint Project, Cherry Street Energy, UMC Global Ministries, UMCOR, Georgia Tech, and others who make it possible for us to offer such practical hope."

The project is in perfect alignment with the vision of the late Ray C. Anderson, who was fond of saying "Brighten the corner where you are." He learned the line as a child in Sunday school. 

Here for all your talent you may surely find a need
Here reflect the bright and Morning Star
Even from your humble hand the Bread of Life may feed
Brighten the corner where you are
Lyrics by Ina Duley Ogdon