Earlier this year, GRID Alternatives’ Greater Los Angeles (GLA) completed a project that was both powerful and deeply personal – a solar installation completely led by current SolarCorps fellows, from start to finish.
This solar installation on a GRID Alternatives GLA client’s home wasn’t just a milestone, it was an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the depth of the impact, heart, and skill of our SolarCorps fellows. Our SolarCorps fellows represent the best of GRID Alternatives – individuals who strive to embed service for their communities at the root of their personal and professional development. In light of recent funding cuts to AmeriCorps, this project became even more meaningful to our current fellows.
GRID Alternatives’ SolarCorps Fellowship program offers a paid, hands-on service opportunity for individuals passionate about environmental justice, clean energy, and community empowerment.
Fellows serve alongside GRID staff for 11 months in our offices across the country, helping our organization to expand solar energy access to the communities that need it most. As we invest in our SolarCorps fellows, we are building a more diverse and inclusive, skilled green workforce of future leaders.
“SolarCorps is how I found my path. Being part of a SolarCorps team reminded me why we do this work—to serve, to lead, and to grow.”
Manuel Fuentes, SolarCorps Outreach Fellow, GRID GLA
GRID Alternatives GLA has been proud to host SolarCorps fellows since the program’s earliest years. Our fellows have accomplished far more than just installing solar. They’ve led workshops for community members, helped us to train and upskill solar installers in our Installation Basics (IBT) program, helped families all over the Greater Los Angeles area lower electric bills, and have played a crucial role in bringing GRID’s mission to life.
Why This Install Mattered So Much
So far, GRID Alternatives GLA is the first regional office to complete a full solar installation powered entirely by SolarCorps fellows—from the initial system designs and community outreach with potential clients, to the rooftop solar panel installation, electricals, and client education to ensure confidence with their new system.
This project came on the heels of devastating cuts to the AmeriCorps program, which was announced in April 2025 by the Trump Administration, which eliminated nearly 41% of the national service program’s funding and directly impacted thousands of service members, including 35 of the 52 fellows in our current 2024–2025 SolarCorps cohort.
“These cuts didn’t just affect policy—they impacted people. And for us, this installation was about showing the strength and spirit of our Fellows, no matter the circumstances.”
Ashley Christy, Executive Director, GRID GLA
Though the future of national service programs face uncertainty, GRID Alternatives’ commitment to workforce development remains consistent. This installation serves as a tribute to the program that helped build GRID Alternatives, and is a call to preserve opportunities like SolarCorps for future generations. We’ll keep showing up. We’ll keep building. And we’ll keep making sure that no matter what happens at the federal level, the spirit of SolarCorps lives on.
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