Two articles from a recent edition of The Advocate caught my eye. The first described increases in insurance rates, some more than 100%, for customers of Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. The other described efforts by Louisiana to seek federal funds to upgrade our electrical grid.

Louisiana Citizens is raising rates mostly in parishes hit by recent hurricanes. It cites the departure of private insurers and higher costs for reinsurance provided by giant international firms backing up outlets like Citizens.

Hardening our power grid will help keep the lights on after these storms. Florida began that nearly two decades ago, resulting in quicker restoration of service.

Florida is also home to a residential community called Babcock Ranch. News reports said the development in the path of Hurricane Ian’s 100-mph winds in September did not lose power or drinking water. That is because it buried its microgrid, used solar power and backup natural gas to run the grid, and routed stormwater away from homes to streets and impoundments.

Babcock Ranch homes also meet tough Florida building codes adopted years ago.

As a member of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ groundbreaking climate committee, I support the governor seeking federal help to build microgrids powered by solar. I urge Louisiana regulators and electric utilities to support these moves and lawmakers to complement them with building codes suitable to storm-wracked Louisiana.

Certainly the homes in Babcock Ranch are more costly than many Louisiana citizens can afford. But like the old saying, we can “pay now or pay later.” We can continue to live in vulnerable homes insured by rising insurance premiums and powered by fragile power grids. Or we can support efforts by our state and electric companies to prepare for the future with development backed by science and innovation.

BILL ROBERTSON

retired state employee

Shreveport