CHICO — In support of the Obama Administration’s announcement in July to increase access to solar energy for low- and moderate- income communities, PG&E has committed $25,000 to GRID Alternatives North Valley to ensure solar is reaching underserved communities throughout the region.
Celebrating a decade-long partnership this year, PG&E and GRID Alternatives have interconnected solar for 2500 low-income households throughout Northern and Central California, including 380 in the North Valley region, saving local residents a combined $10.8 million over the systems’ lifetime.
PG&E employees and GRID Alternatives install solar atop a Chico home on Oct.. 2. (Photos by Paul Moreno.)
GRID Alternatives is a national non-profit organization that makes renewable energy technology and job training accessible to underserved communities, bringing together community partners, volunteers and job trainees to implement solar power and energy efficiency for low-income families. The North Valley office opened in Chico in 2012 to serve families in inland Northern California from Sacramento to Siskiyou County.
“Throughout our 10 year partnership, PG&E has proudly invested in GRID Alternatives’ efforts to ensure underserved communities have access to solar energy, which is critical to ensuring our clean energy future in California. Together, we are working to support local economic and workforce development, community vitality and continued growth in the solar industry,” said Laurie Giammona, senior vice president and chief customer officer for PG&E.
As part of this year’s grant, PG&E will expand its investment in GRID Alternatives’ SolarCorps program, supporting two solar installation fellows headquartered in Chico, as well as 6 more fellows throughout Northern and Central California. The program, which recently received a major investment from the Corporation for National and Community Service through AmeriCorps, provides motivated individuals the opportunity to join GRID Alternatives for one year to obtain on-the-job service training and preparation for a career in the solar or electric utility industry. In addition, PG&E volunteers are taking part in a number of solar installations as volunteers with GRID staff, including one recent installation that took place on October 2 in Chico, with about eight PG&E employees helping to install solar panels on a home in central Chico.
The Chico home of Bruce and Jean Ertle received solar panels thanks to PG&E and GRID Alternatives North Valley.
“The SolarCorps Fellows leave GRID ready to launch a career in solar, and also make a major contribution to our work with low-income families in the area,” said Bob Gragson, regional director for GRID Alternatives North Valley. “We’re grateful for PG&E’s long-time support of this program and look forward to seeing it grow.”
Since 2005, PG&E has provided more than $770,000 to support GRID Alternatives’ efforts throughout Northern and Central California. The results of the 10-year partnership between PG&E and GRID Alternatives include:
- PG&E employees have volunteered more than 2,000 hours at GRID Alternatives solar installation builds
- Supported more than 120,000 hours of hands-on solar training for underserved or unemployed Californians
- Backed 23 Solar Fellows through the SolarCorps program
- Solar installations for more than 200 families in partnership with Habitat for Humanity through PG&E’s Solar Habitat program
Email Currents at Currents@pge.com.