For Mike Otterson, going solar means the opportunity to lower electricity bills while having a positive impact on the environment. This August, volunteers from U.S. Bank joined the GRID Alternatives Colorado team in Thornton, CO to install a 3.7-kilowatt solar system on the Otterson family home.
A few months later and the Ottersons are already seeing a positive result! The family has lower electricity bills and the savings aren’t the only positive impact -- Mr. Otterson can see from his solar monitoring application that his new solar system has already prevented over 1,000 pounds of carbon emissions. “Its helped me make a small impact on saving the environment,” he added.
Over the lifetime of his solar system, Mr. Otterson can expect to save nearly $10,000 on his electricity bills and reduce his carbon footprint by over 100 tons. That’s the equivalent of planting 2,440 trees!
Asked about the experience of over a dozen volunteers working on the project, Mr. Otterson replied, “It was a pleasure to have them at my home. Thank you again for all the help.”
He isn’t the only one feeling thankful. “At U.S. Bank we are focused on expanding opportunities to create more affordable, clean energy to our communities,” said Marissa Jacobus, Project Manager Associate, Renewable Energy Tax Credit Investments with U.S. Bank, who volunteered on the project. “We really appreciated the chance to have our employees volunteer on an actual solar installation. U.S. Bank has been financing solar projects for many years, but we don’t often get such an up-close look and hands-on role.”
This fall, U.S. Bank announced renewed support of GRID Alternatives with a $100,000 grant. The grant supports our national tribal program and will help make hands-on solar job training accessible to nearly 100 tribal members and support 65 solar installations in tribal communities.
Thank you!