When Francisco Rosas got laid off from the Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs, he decided to give the solar industry a try. So Rosas enrolled in solar installation classes at College of the Desert four years ago — but he had trouble grasping all of the material. That changed when Rosas started volunteering for GRID Alternatives.
How many hard hats does it take to switch on solar power in a distressed Washington, D.C., neighborhood? Try 150. That's how many workers installed solar panels on 10 Habitat for Humanity-built houses in northeast Washington's Ivy City neighborhood on a sunny fall morning as the nonprofit GRID Alternatives marked the grand opening of its D.C. office
Four Atascadero families went solar at the GRID Alternatives Central Coast Solarthon with help from job trainees and employee volunteers from PG&E and Rabobank.
How can solar energy job training in low-income communities help strengthen the clean energy economy? During today's OnPoint, Greg Dotson, vice president for energy policy at the Center for American Progress, and Erica Mackie, co-founder and CEO at GRID Alternatives, discuss a new program launched in Washington, D.C., focused on expanding solar installations and job training to low-income communities.
One of the District’s most economically-challenged neighborhoods recently received a visit from the Obama administration’s housing and environmental chiefs, both of whom are hoping Ivy City becomes a model for similar neighborhoods across the country.
GRID Alternatives began installing solar for 10 Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. homes, the project is bringing job opportunities as well. GRID Alternatives is teaming up with job trainees and employee volunteers from Wells Fargo.
U.S. EPA chief Gina McCarthy joined Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, Council on Environmental Quality acting Chairman Mike Boots, and White House energy and climate adviser Dan Utech in the Ivy City neighborhood of northeast D.C. this morning to view new solar installations by the nonprofit GRID Alternatives on affordable homes developed by Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.
