January 16, 2025
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Empowered by Light and Enphase Energy Partner to Provide Solar Generators to Emergency Personnel and Victims of the LA Fires
Los Angeles, California – The renewable energy focused nonprofit, Empowered by Light, and global energy management technology company, Enphase Energy, have partnered to provide solar generators to communities impacted by the recent LA fires and to fire fighting strike teams that have been deployed from the Bay Area to help battle the devastating fires.
The two Bay Area based organizations are distributing 25 of Enphase’s IQ PowerPack 1500s, a portable solar generator with portable solar modules, that can be used to charge cell phones, laptops, radios, lighting, and other small critical devices. A dozen of the solar generators are being deployed to the strike teams battling the fires to power fire personnel’s radios and cell phones. Six solar generators are also being distributed to World Central Kitchen providing infrastructure support to community hubs in low-income neighborhoods without power. These units will power lighting and provide a free and local source of power for charging cell phones and other small personal devices.
“These solar generators will provide critically needed energy and help firefighters and others transition off diesel generators–which have historically been the go-to source for power during natural disasters,” said Empowered by Light’s Executive Director, Moira Hanes. “This effort will help break the negative feedback loop between environmental disasters and fossil-fuel-based responses.”
Captain Richard Birt, retired from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue and founder of Solar and Fire Education, who is helping coordinate deployment of these units said, “These units will provide a renewable power source to power critical communications for the fire fighters serving on the frontline strike teams when they’re working in areas with no power or limited power.”
“We are proud to support communities during times of crisis by providing reliable and sustainable energy solutions through our IQ PowerPack 1500 product,” said Marco Krapels, Vice President of Worldwide Business Development at Enphase Energy. “By partnering with Empowered by Light, we’re ensuring that first responders and affected communities have access to the power they need, when they need it most, without relying on fossil fuels. This collaboration embodies our mission to advance clean energy for a resilient and sustainable future for all.”
About Empowered by Light
Empowered by Light is a U.S. 501(c)3 nonprofit deploying solar technologies to empower vulnerable communities most impacted by climate change. EBL has completed more than 80 solar and energy storage projects in 9 countries--helping school-age children study after dark, improving safety, boosting economic development, supporting conservation and helping build more resilient communities. Learn more here.
About Enphase Energy, Inc.
Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems that enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power—and control it all with a smart mobile app. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and builds all-in-one solar, battery, and software solutions. Enphase has shipped approximately 78.0 million microinverters, and over 4.5 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.
Media contacts:
Empowered by Light
Moira Hanes, 415-488-7031
Enphase Energy