As the nation expressed its gratitude for our veterans on Veterans Day, we must never forget that the highest show of appreciation is not to just utter words, but to live by them. GRID Alternatives launched its veterans initiative, Troops To Solar, this time last year with support from Wells Fargo, with a goal of providing solar training to 1000 military veterans and active duty service members through 2018. GRID GLA has risen to the challenge! To date in 2016, we have actively engaged more than 20 veterans who expressed interest in solar job training through our workforce development program, and we’ve been able to install solar for more than 20 veteran households with more in the pipeline. Overall, these installations will help veteran workers get jobs in the growing solar industry, save veteran families thousands of dollars for years to come, while helping to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions and lower our carbon footprint.
Retired Sergeant Raymond Staples was the most recent beneficiary of a no-cost solar PV system that will offset more than 60% of his electric bill. Sergeant Staples was drafted by the Army in 1967 to fight in Mekong Delta, Vietnam. During that time, he served a tour and a half in combat until separating from service in 1969. This installation is part of GRID GLA’s Vets help Vets initiative. With the exception of Diana Adams, our Solar installation Supervisor, the rest of the team were all veterans.
GRID Alternatives GLA will continue to provide support to the veteran community by installing solar and providing hands-on training, so that together we can collectively see a future with veterans receiving the benefits of solar and getting plugged into the solar workforce. Happy Veterans Day!