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Rural health centers in Tennessee may soon be better prepared for future power outages.
The U.S. Department of Energy is providing grants to install solar microgrids across the Southeast.
Selected health centers will get solar panels and battery systems that can operate like a mini grid: If the power goes out, these health centers can still offer critical services like ventilation, dialysis and refrigeration for cold drugs like insulin.
Health centers tend to serve lower-income populations in rural areas, and each grantee will be located in or near communities considered disproportionately overburdened by pollution.
The funding comes from the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will support up to 175 sites across eight states. The Department of Energy says the microgrids will lower power bills and reduce financial losses during outages.