Clients

Think Progress - New Program Will Make D.C. A Leader On Renewable Energy

By the year 2032, half of D.C.'s energy will be from renewable energy, as required by the new Renewable Portfolio Standard signed into law today by DC Mayor Bowser.  At least 5 percent of this clean energy will be from solar, with a program that will allow 100,000 low-income residents to benefit from solar energy-savings by 2032. 

DC.Gov - Mayor Bowser Signs Renewable Portfolio Standard Bill into Law

Today, Mayor Bowser of the District of Columbia signed the Renewable Portfolio Standard Expansion Act of 2016 into Law. This legislation, which was introduced by Councilmember Cheh and unanimously passed by the Council, will simultaneously increase the use of clean energy in DC, bring clean energy and energy savings to 100,000 low-income homeowners by the year 2032, and will create hundreds of clean energy jobs each year. 

D.C. Council passes bill that will include “Solar for All”

Washington D.C. just took a major step forward to advance climate action goals by increasing the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 50% by 2032. This means that 50% of all energy generation must come from renewable energy sources, which means more wind and more solar! Included in the bill is a 5% solar carve-out that includes a “Solar for All” program intended specifically for low-income households. This is where GRID Alternatives comes in. As the nation’s largest non-profit solar installer, we intend to help the District achieve its goals of helping 100,000 low-income households reduce electricity costs through solar and energy efficiency.

Bringing Together the Baltimore Community
"Gramma can you believe it? You got solar panels!" squealed eight-year old Diamond as her grandmother looked through pictures of the solar array that was just installed on her roof. Diamond's grandmother, Ida, heard about GRID Alternatives when its offices were only located on the West Coast and waited patiently for years hoping GRID would come to this area. Now that GRID Alternatives has a Mid-Atlantic Regional office in DC, Ida was finally able to get solar on her Baltimore home. People from the Baltimore community came together to make this installation happen: local volunteers, GRID Solar Corps fellows and staff members, AmeriCorps Members from Civic Works' Baltimore Energy Challenge program, and Ida's family members all had a hand in this project. This solar installation was one of the first of many to take place in Baltimore, a result of the shared mission and collaboration of multiple organizations.

Client Thank You Solar-bration!
Even though it had been raining for two weeks straight, the sun came out for our Client “Solar-bration” Picnic, held at the River Terrace neighborhood park by the Anacostia River. GRID wanted to show our gratitude to the homeowners in the Mid-Atlantic region who helped us grow our non-profit by getting solar installed on their roofs. GRID staff, clients, neighbors, and volunteers gathered under the gazebo, enjoyed food donated by our neighborhood restaurant Shawafel, and shared their solar stories. Families and children also took part in our photo booth, coloring stations, and played Frisbee with a few of the GRID staff members in a nearby field.