A swarm of solar ‘bees’ are coming to western North Carolina community hubs

A swarm of solar ‘bees’ are coming to western North Carolina community hubs

By Katie Myers Grist Nearly two years ago, Hurricane Helene knocked out power in Burnsville, North Carolina. Fire Chief Niles Howell had to use the station’s generator to keep everything running. Through the storm, and the devastating flooding that followed, the fire department provided a landing pad for helicopters, a base for search-and-rescue operations, and a field hospital to triage and treat the wounded. But even in less trying times, Howe…