According to the most recent U.S. Energy Information Administration data, from 2013 to 2020, the duration of blackouts caused by extreme weather and other events related to the climate crisis has tripled, reported PR Newswire.The first of the homes in the project are located in Durango and Oak Shade and have the capability to charge an electric vehicle (EV), backup battery storage, and are connected to a community microgrid powered by one shared battery.“With this project we are taking a large leap toward creating communities from the ground up that are designed to produce sustainable and affordable energy and resiliency to the impacts of climate change on our grid,” said Matt Brost, vice president of Sales, New Homes, at SunPower, as PR Newswire reported.But with extreme weather causing most power outages in the U.S., and with the frequency of weather-related blackouts having gone up 78 percent in the past decade, building entirely electric homes that are reliant on solar power and have battery storage can lessen the strain.“Working with industry and academic leaders, we plan to explore how these energy-smart connected communities can help protect the environment and turn our homes into their own power centers designed to deliver resiliency while also reducing the overall cost of long-term homeownership,” said KB Home’s Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Mezger, as Business Wire reported."