Women in Solar

People often ask me, “What’s the difference between sustainability studies and environmental science?” The simple answer is this: Sustainability is the study of the environment in which we care about people. At GRID Alternatives, they take a multifaceted approach to climate change; decreasing our collective carbon footprint, while simultaneously increasing diversity in the workforce, empowering individuals with minimal access to resources. My name is Mikaela Kato and as a Sustainability major at University of California, Riverside (UCR) the work GRID does is not only endlessly fascinating to me, but also so extremely relevant to what I study.

Welcome to our May installment of our Staff Spotlight feature, where we share a brief interview to introduce you to some of our amazing staff members here at GRID Bay Area! This month, we are introducing you to our SolarCorps Construction Fellow, Emily Goldenberg! Emily is passionate about making the Bay Area a better and more accessible place to live, and hopes that her example will inspire others to take action on the causes they care about. Read on to learn more about Emily, including what inspired her to speak before hundreds of people at City Hall!

At 92 years of age, Elizabeth Feygo is more vivacious, astute and full of life than most people half her age. Elizabeth lived in Buffalo, New York most of her early years before moving to California to be closer to her two adult daughters.

By all accounts, it was an incredibly meaningful and rewarding day!

My name is Sawani Poornima Goonatilleke and I am a junior at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), pursuing a B.S. in Sustainability.

Last year, GRID Mid-Atlantic hosted its first We Build, an all-women's solar build, providing space for women with the same passion for renewable energy to work together and gain tehnical skills in the industry.

When Kaly applied for the GRID SolarCorps Construction Fellowship, she was just perusing Craigslist for a job training opportunity that would keep a roof over her and her mom's head while gaining valuable skills.

Growing up in a traditional Mexican household, Amaris learned all about gender roles. She has never been one to accept something that didn't make sense, though, and it wasn't long before she launched her own career in the trades. Now, she leads teams in the field for GRID Bay Area. In her words, "Women have a powerful voice and presence, so get out there and make a difference!"

On the rooftop of a San Francisco family, a whole GRID community comes together for a brighter future for all.

On June 27, 2017, Pamela went solar and installed solar. Getting up on the rooftop and installing her own solar panels is one of her favorite memories of GRID.