Dear friends,While many of us are struggling with new COVID-19 circumstances, there is a company that can claim 2020 has brought huge reward: Tesla. Elon Musk has shattered expectations, putting up consecutive quarters of profit during a global pandemic and scoring a record-high stock price. As a result, Tesla has become the most valuable automaker in the world. But, Tesla isn’t just a car company. Tesla is a battery company- one that could revolutionize the energy industry. Regional utilities, like PG&E, have struggled to maintain miles of aging energy infrastructure. Add to that years of wet seasons (yielding lots of foliage) followed by very dry seasons (leaving dried foliage as kindling) and you’ve got yourself a disastrous fire season. With new technology and declining renewable energy costs, it’s now more affordable and feasible to replace decaying distribution lines with utility-scale batteries. This could build resiliency for cities most at risk for fire. With fire season upon us, this month’s issue of Building Better Cities focuses on fire resiliency and how practitioners and policy makers are working to build resilient cities that can mitigate the negative impacts of climate-related disasters. Below, you’ll find ideas for building resilient cities, my recent work, and the latest in urban innovation. Take a read and reach out for more information. Looking forward to connecting with you,
Kate
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