On Monday, January 18th, GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic, along with the U.S. Department of Energy, The City of Baltimore, Civic Works, Morgan State University, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and other community organizations came together to celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service 2016.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced a $200,000 commitment to advance solar installations for Baltimore’s Morgan Community Mile. As a new part of the Baltimore Energy Challenge, the solar installations will provide the city’s most disadvantaged communities with long-term relief from high and unpredictable utility costs, competitive wages with high-growth job opportunities, and a cleaner environment.
Other speakers at this year’s MLK Day of Service included Congressman John Sarbanes, Under Secretary for Science and Energy from the U.S. Department of Energy Dr. Franklin (Lynn) Orr, Director Dana Stein from CivicWorks, Baltimore Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano, Johnette Richardson from the Morgan Community Mile, President of Morgan State University Dr. David Wilson and Executive Director of GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic, Nicole Steele.
The solar industry is growing twelve times faster than the rest of the U.S. economy and is expected to add an additional 30,000 jobs in 2016 alone. For the families in northeast Baltimore, the solar arrays and efficiency upgrades will reduce electricity bills, increase access to clean energy, prevent harmful greenhousegas emissions, and provide job training for local workers.
GRID is excited to be spearheading this new effort with the City of Baltimore and its many other partners that will pave the way for more projects like this in the years to come.