Rainbow approves purchase of emergency generators and solar battery backup

The Rainbow Municipal Water District will be acquiring two emergency generators and a solar-powered battery backup system.

Rainbow's board voted 5-0 April 27 to authorize general manager Tom Kennedy to execute purchase orders for the two generators and the battery backup system equipment. The purchases will be funded by a state Office of Emergency Services grant, and Kennedy's $300,000 spending authorization matches that grant amount.

Between July 2019 and October 2020, the district experienced approximately 100 hours of power outage events including 27 hours due to public safety power shutoff...