Originally published on ideas.time.com. Come hell or high water — and Sandy brought both to many Americans— most of us can’t get the electricity we need. More than two weeks after the storm’s departure, 25,000 homes were still without power.   READ MORE >>

Spark is RMI's weekly e-newsletter. Get the latest details on RMI's progress in profitably moving the world off fossil fuels delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to RMI Spark, and you'll have up-close access to news, blogs, videos, and project updates.   READ MORE >>

Originally posted on October 18, 2011 and written by Kelly Vaughn. Today as Americans go to the polls, we're running this post from last year because transforming our energy future—especially in the wake of tragic and destructive weather events like Hurricane Sandy—is more important than ever.   READ MORE >>

The impact of Hurricane Sandy’s devastating blow last week to the East Coast, particularly in New Jersey and New York, is still being felt. Superstorm Sandy left at least 75 people dead, destroyed homes, created lines and rationing at gas stations, and churned through an estimated $50 billion in economic damage. Hundreds of thousands of people are still without power—and may remain in the dark for some time to come.   READ MORE >>

The smart grid can usher in a whole new way of interacting with the electricity system. When storms knock down wires, smart sensors can detect and isolate the problem without us noticing. Or, if we’re feeling especially ambitious, we can program our electric vehicle to automatically charge when electricity prices are low. To do this, the smart grid requires a robust communications network.   READ MORE >>