The Super Bowl Blackout Illuminated an Unreliable Grid

In a bet that was rated 80,000 to one, the lights went out on the Ravens and 49ers at the Superdome last night. While it should have been Destiny’s Child, Ray Lewis crying, and Go Daddy commercial comments circulating on the Twittersphere, power (or lack thereof) was the most popular subject, which, according to Mashable, generated 231,500 tweets per minute.

Aside from highlighting the fact that millions of Americans will sit in front of a T.V. featuring nothing for more than 30 minutes, the blackout also magnified our uncontrollable reliance on electricity and the need for backup power.

In the 21st century, the utility cannot always keep up with electricity demand, and the demand will continue to rise. But, there is an answer to the pressing dilemma–solar power.

Solar power is now generating power for homes, municipalities, and more recently, sports stadiums. In fact, the 49ers will soon be going solar with SunPower panels (offered by yours truly).

“. . .Eco-friendly fans and city leaders in New Orleans are competing to maximize sustainability practices to the fullest,” states the U.S. Department of Energy. They have added more than 26,000 LED lights in and outside the stadium, but they have failed to adopt solar and battery backup options — a move that was blatantly apparent last night.

Incidentally, the Super Bowl was a success for a new reasons this year–highlighting the need for grid reliability, a goal that can be achieved with solar power.

Stop overpaying for electric. Go solar with $0 down.

Stop overpaying for electric. Go solar with $0 down.

Learn More

Get a Free Solar Estimate