The Great ShakeOut: How Clean Energy Can Strengthen California’s Earthquake Preparedness

Every October, millions of people worldwide participate in the Great ShakeOut, an event that helps people prepare for earthquakes. From securing homes to stocking emergency kits, the Great ShakeOut emphasizes how to stay safe during and immediately after a quake. But as important as these drills are, they often miss one critical aspect of resilience: advocacy of clean, renewable energy.

The Missing Piece: Clean Energy in Earthquake Preparedness

While the Great ShakeOut highlights essential earthquake safety measures, there’s another tool that could dramatically improve how we prepare and recover: renewable energy. California, a leader in the clean energy movement, has the opportunity to take preparedness one step further by integrating solar power and battery storage into its emergency plans. Not only do these technologies reduce our carbon footprint, but they can also keep people safe in the chaotic aftermath of an earthquake.

A Clean Energy Future: Safer and More Resilient

Renewable energy is a tool for building resilience. Clean energy systems like microgrids and solar-plus-storage can keep critical services running during disasters. By investing in these technologies, we’re not only reducing emissions but creating a safer, more reliable energy system that can withstand the unexpected.

In addition, fossil fuels are hazardous during an earthquake. Shaking and falling debris can rupture gas lines, leading to leaks, fires, and even explosions. The very infrastructure we rely on for energy can become a significant danger in a time of crisis. Solar energy, on the other hand, provides a safer, more resilient alternative. By storing power locally and avoiding the risks associated with fossil fuel systems, solar energy can continue supplying electricity during an emergency, even when the central grid goes down.

There’s already a model for how this works: after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, solar microgrids helped restore power to hospitals and schools while the central grid was being rebuilt. Imagine if California, sitting on major fault lines, embraced a similar strategy. By integrating solar energy and battery storage into its earthquake preparedness plans, the state can mitigate the dangers posed by earthquakes and ensure faster recovery.

Hope for the Future: Clean Energy and Climate Action

The shift towards renewable energy tackles multiple challenges at once. By transitioning away from fossil fuels, we reduce our carbon emissions and help slow climate change. At the same time, we build resilience to natural disasters like earthquakes, ensuring that communities have reliable power when they need it most.

This is part of a broader movement to reimagine infrastructure in a way that makes communities safer, healthier, and more sustainable. More and more cities are adopting clean energy policies, pushing for carbon-neutrality while creating jobs and improving air quality. California, a global leader in climate action, has the potential to lead the way in integrating clean energy into disaster preparedness.

It’s time to think beyond traditional emergency supplies. Incorporating clean energy into our disaster plans will not only help us meet our climate goals but will also create more resilient, safe communities. By investing in renewable technologies now, we can protect future generations from the dangers of both earthquakes and climate change.

The shift to clean energy is already underway, and the benefits are clear. We are at a turning point where the steps we take today can create a brighter, safer tomorrow for everyone.