In a rapidly changing world, where the demand for sustainable energy solutions is more critical than ever, partnerships between innovative companies and community-focused organizations are making a significant impact.
Higher Wire Inc., a pioneering company based in Phoenix, Arizona, is working closely with the City of Phoenix and Purpose Focused Alternative Learning to bring about real change in energy storage, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment.
Cutting-Edge Lithium Battery Technology
Higher Wire’s goal is to redefine how the world views and uses sustainable power by specializing in the design and manufacturing of lithium batteries.
The company uses domestically sourced components to create these batteries, addressing environmental and supply-chain concerns. They have developed cutting-edge technologies that make energy storage and generation more cost-effective and accessible. A key innovation is their patent-pending process that repurposes old batteries into new forms of energy storage, a method that requires less energy and generates no chemical waste compared to traditional recycling methods. Each revamped battery has an additional 5-year lifeline, eliminating the need to purchase new batteries.
Trever Warren, Founder and CEO of Higher Wire, emphasized the environmental impact of their battery recycling efforts. “If you were to buy one of our renewed packs, that reduces the total emissions by 95 to 98 percent of carbon emissions, versus a brand new battery,” Warren explained. “We have companies that send us their batteries so we can turn them into useful assets, instead of hazardous waste,” he added. “Everything that we can’t use, like the metal, wiring, relays, we sort through them, and they go to our recycling partners.” This focus on sustainability and reducing carbon footprints is central to Higher Wire’s mission.
Collaboration with the City of Phoenix
Higher Wire has caught the attention of city leaders, leading to a unique partnership with the Public Works Department.
Amanda Jordon, the Circular Economy Project Manager at the City of Phoenix, shared insights into the collaboration.
“Our goal is to enable a circular economy where waste is no longer seen as waste but as a resource that can be reintegrated into the supply chain,” Jordan explains. “When we connected with Trevor from Higher Wire, we saw an opportunity to collaborate on managing lithium and electronic waste effectively.”
This partnership is part of Phoenix’s broader mission to support entrepreneurs and small businesses while advancing its goals for a circular economy and sustainability by 2050.
The collaboration includes a pilot project at South Mountain Park, where lithium battery waste is being tested for stability in extreme conditions.
“We wanted to see how the batteries would handle it [the heat], so we installed six car-sized batteries in ramadas around the park,” Amanda said, highlighting the project’s experimental nature and potential impact on future energy solutions.
Building a Skilled Workforce
Meanwhile, Higher Wire’s partnership with Purpose Focused Alternative Learning is addressing the lack of training and workforce development in underserved communities, particularly on the Navajo Nation.
JoAnn Armenta, Founder and CEO of the nonprofit with decades of experience in energy efficiency and organizational development, has brought her expertise to the Navajo Nation, where she is working to empower the community through education and technology.
“We’ve trained 30 to 40 individuals in the past three years,” Armenta noted. “But there is a challenge [we face]. Our people that haven’t gone through proper education lack learning skills. Technology is mathematical, but those who have expressed interest get trained.”
Higher Wire plays a crucial role in this effort by providing hands-on experience for trainees. The partnership aims to build a skilled workforce capable of maintaining and expanding solar power infrastructure on the reservation.
According to city leaders, these collaborations underscore the importance of innovative partnerships in driving sustainable change.
The inclusion of private innovation companies such as Higher Wire, the City of Phoenix and Purpose Focused Alternative Learning are not only finding new energy solutions but empowering communities to take control of their future.
