Clients

Two local, lower-income families will now experience the benefits of solar energy. Today, a team of volunteers joined non-profit GRID Alternatives Mid Atlantic to install 16 solar panels – eight per house – on the roofs of two energy-efficient homes Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia (Habitat NOVA) is constructing in the Groveton Heights neighborhood of Fairfax County.

Genevieve Fenwick lives in a classic row home in Baltimore’s Belair-Edison neighborhood. Living on a fixed income, Fenwick said, “I’m the last person on earth you’d expect to have 12 solar panels powering my row home.” But thanks to GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit bringing renewable energy to underserved communities, the solar panels on Fenwick’s roof will soon be turning sunlight into electricity. 

Local veteran Brian Haas celebrated the installation of a rooftop solar system on his new home that will save him and his wife $1,000 each year on their electricity bills. The work was done last Wednesday, September 21 by local volunteers and veteran job trainees led by GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic. 

Nearly three years ago, Los Banos native Jesse Cortez applied to GRID’s Central Valley office in hopes of receiving a solar system to help with high electric bills. Supporting a wife and 7 children, Jesse wanted some relief from the high cost of utilities in the hot, arid region in Merced County. $500 electric bills were just not affordable. He knew the benefits of solar and that the climate where he lived was a perfect match!