Central Valley News

With help from Fresno Grizzlies players, Joe Musgrove and Tommy Shirley, Sunrun Solar, and sales representatives from Legacy Power, GRID was honored to install a 4kW solar system for Yolanda Lopez and her family.  Yolanda Lopez was overwhelmed with joy as she gave her speech, thanking everyone who participated in installing solar on her home. “I would just like to thank GRID Alternatives’ solar program and all involved with providing my family with this wonderful gift.

“I love nature and believe it is our responsibility to take care of it” states Nichol Conigliaro. Nichol is a Navy veteran and recent graduate from the job training program, Proteus Inc. “I learned about GRID Alternatives through Proteus. I had such a great time with everyone and loved that we were a team” stated Nichol.
As the Volunteer Training Assistant it is great to have the opportunity to get to know our wonderful volunteers and how they came to learn about GRID Alternatives. With that in mind, one afternoon I had the opportunity to meet Alison Van Dusen in our office, after completing her first install.
Mark Welch Jr.’s volunteer experience with GRID Alternatives began in October of 2015. “Wanting to change my life around, the decision to attend the volunteer orientation was the start to a new beginning. A few years ago, I was in a dark place in my life and hung around with the wrong crowd. It was tough” stated Mark.
Esmeralda Ramirez’s life changed over a cup of coffee - and volunteering with GRID. An army veteran, she had recently returned from the Middle East, where she spent twelve years working in fuel security in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, receiving and testing fuel shipped in for convoys and other military transport vehicles, and wanted a change.
Getting out into the field with GRID Alternatives is always a highlight of the school week for students at Yosemite High School in Merced, but this week, it had extra meaning. Not only were the students working side-by-side with students from the Merced Adult School to install solar for a former Adult School classmate, but they also got a visit from State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson.