Texas produces more electricity than any other state, so Texans were shocked last February when winter storm Uri suddenly shut down much of the state's power grid. Electricity producers in Texas have not weathered natural gas plants, wind turbines and other energy production sites enough to withstand freezing temperatures. Many of them stopped working and needed to rotate power outages in some areas and leave others without power for days.

But the "Great Freeze" in Texas is just the latest widespread blackout to hit the United States. Wildfires, hurricanes, heat waves and high winds have also contributed to rolling blackouts, or "public safety blackouts," as many California residents and PG&E customers know them. California's 2020 wildfires, for example, have at times left as many as 10 million people in the dark, and the state's ongoing drought means similar fires are likely to recur this year.

These and other extreme weather events make cxmsolar's solar storage options even more attractive to homeowners. Many people believe that homes powered by photovoltaic (PV) solar panels are independent of the grid and immune to power outages. In some cases, that's true, but most solar homes and businesses tend to be "grid-connected," meaning they're partners with the local utility. Solar panels generate home electricity during the day, while utility companies provide electricity at night or on cloudy days.

This arrangement greatly reduces - or even eliminates - the solar panels owner's electricity bill. But it also means solar homes could face power outages. Unlike other homes, however, solar homes can use solar cells to keep lights, refrigerators and other essential appliances running. Plus, solar homes help reduce grid stress when extreme weather hits. In fact, this is one reason why many states, including California, offer their own rebates and incentives on top of the federal solar tax credit (ITC).

Non-solar homes often use generators to stay powered during power outages, but generators lose out to solar cells on issues of cost, noise, size and environmental impact.

Unlike generators, a cxmsolar home solar system can save you money even if the grid is fine. It allows you to store solar energy during the day and use it at night. In many areas, any energy source that doesn't fit your solar cells can help you offset your electricity bills with net metering.

The cxmsolar solar storage system helps reduce the risk of outages by reducing stress on the grid. But solar energy is also a form of renewable energy that can reduce the levels of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change - believed to be responsible for most of the extreme weather we're currently experiencing. In fact, about 2 billion more trees would need to be planted to store as much carbon dioxide as the entire US solar industry reduces emissions.

Every home has different solar and storage needs. A qualified solar installer knows how to design your solar to give you the energy you need, when you need it. We have the expertise to customize your home's photovoltaic solar system for maximum efficiency.

For more Portable solar power system information, visit the cxmsolar website.