In 2010, Elon Musk funded 108 solar panels and battery backup for an Alabama centre

In 2010, Elon Musk funded the installation of 108 solar panels and battery backup at the South Bay Communities Alliance Hurricane Response Center in Coden, Alabama. The 25-kilowatt system was designed to provide the facility with about 90% to 100% of its electricity needs and to offer energy security during disasters like hurricanes or power grid failures.

Musk's foundation funded the project, while SolarCity donated and installed the system. The installation came as Coden was still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which had impacted the local commercial fishing industry. Musk explained that the project aimed to help residents while demonstrating an alternative to relying on oil, stating, "This seemed like a good thing to do to help people out, while simultaneously creating awareness that there was a better way to keep things going than just 'drill, baby, drill."

The solar system for the disaster response center was intended to provide electricity when the surrounding grid was unavailable, and the battery backup was crucial for maintaining energy security during emergencies.