Just in time for a President-elect who once declared climate change a hoax concocted by the Chinese government, Elon Musk and Tesla Motors are out here flexing all over the globe to show the awe-inspiring potential of solar energy. Thanks to 60 Tesla Powerpacks and more than 5,300 solar panels, the Samoan Island of Ta‘ū is now "nearly 100%" powered by raw solar awesomeness:
Tesla's recent acquisition of solar energy company SolarCity was approved by shareholders last week, with the company touting "85 percent of shares voted" as in favor of the deal. "We look forward to showing the world what Tesla and SolarCity can achieve together," the Tesla team said of the merger.
The potential benefits of this partnership are on full display in the Ta‘ū project, showing that even communities that rely heavily on diesel as a power source can make significant changes when given the support. "This is part of making history," Keith Ahsoon, owner of a local food store, said in a SolarCity press release. "This project will help lessen the carbon footprint of the world. Living on an island, you experience global warming firsthand. Beach erosions and other noticeable changes are a part of life here. It’s a serious problem, and this project will hopefully set a good example for everyone else to follow."
This Tesla-ized island is made possible through the use of a storage-enabled microgrid, providing a budget-friendly diesel alternative for nearly 600 residents. The micro grid was implemented in just one year "from start to finish" and was paid for by the American Samoa Economic Development Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Interior.
Whatever the cost, let's get this shit going worldwide.
