GRID Alternatives completed its 1000th solar electric system installation for California low-income families. This milestone took place at the home of Ms. Celia Juarez as part of the Enterprise East Los Angeles Green Grant Program, and her 1.5kW solar electric system with solar panels provided by Yingli Solar was installed with the help of LA CAUSA YouthBuild. GRID Alternatives is a statewide non-profit solar installer that trains and leads teams of volunteers and job trainees to install solar electric systems for low-income families.
These thousand solar installations will generate $25 million worth of clean energy over their life spans, will prevent 100,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and marks 6,600 volunteers who have received hands on experience with solar installation. Many of Californias low-income residents live on the front lines when it comes to health threats from pollution related to fossil fuel production. Rising energy costs combined with rising temperatures also puts these families at increased risk of both foreclosure and heat related illness and death since they often cannot afford to own air-conditioners.
Solar is an impactful solution for these communities, but low-income families typically don't have access to it. The important role of solar power is not lost on Los Angeles' growing population of low-income environmentalists like Ms. Celia Juarez, who often worked multiple jobs and night shifts to pay for the best education possible for her children and who now lives on her small social security check and volunteers regularly to help others in her own community of East Los Angeles.
"I care very much about our earth and keeping it healthy for my children, grandchildren, and future generations," Ms. Juarez, senior and mother of seven, declared. "I really appreciate this solar power system and how the savings will help me every single day." In addition to helping Ms. Juarez meet her daily and monthly expenses, her solar electric system provided a unique training opportunity for several underserved youths of East Los Angeles. GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles Regional Director Susie Chang explains, "Every GRID project seamlessly weaves together immediate economic relief, green jobs workforce development and long term environmental sustainability with a tangible result: a fully functioning solar electric system that will reduce a homeowner's energy costs by an average of 75 percent and reduce greenhouse gasses."
GRID Alternatives is a non-profit solar installer that trains and leads teams of volunteers and job trainees to install solar electric systems for low-income families throughout California. The mission of GRID Alternatives is to empower communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training. Since 2004, GRID Alternatives has installed 1,000 solar electric systems and provided hands-on solar installation training for over 6,500 community members statewide.
These systems represent 2.4 MW of generating capacity, which translates to nearly $25 million in energy cost savings over the systems projected life spans, while preventing approximately 100,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. GRID Alternatives also manages the Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) Program, part of the California Solar Initiative that is funded by California ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
