GRID Alternatives is a great resource for job training and solar installation for the Inland Empire. This especially holds true for Eddie Ammari, a former volunteer and GRID homeowner. Originally from Corona, Eddie came to Riverside to look for a new home. He currently works at A&A Restoration, a home improvement and repair company, in Corona. He said the hands-on training he received at GRID helped him prepare for his current job.
Interested in construction training, Eddie took a couple of classes to further his knowledge in the industry. Looking for more action in the field, a peer recommended that he volunteer with GRID, sharing that it would be a good learning experience for him.
Doing further research on the GRID website and asking by word of mouth from former volunteers, he thought that it would be a great opportunity and decided to join GRID’s volunteer team. Eddie’s first day at GRID was an orientation. “It was better than I imagined my first day to be. Everything was very well organized and I never knew GRID was such a big organization that extends to different cities, states, and even countries,” said Eddie. As a volunteer, he learned about GRID’s Energy For All program which connects eligible homeowners to no-cost solar. He thought it would be worth a shot to apply and see if he qualified.
For his first installation as a job trainee, he attended a two-day installation for a family in Riverside. It was a 12-panel solar system that he helped install and said the project was great experience for him. The installation was very informative and everyone on the team was friendly and approachable. He felt extremely comfortable asking for help and having all his questions answered. GRID offered a great amount of knowledge about the entire installation process.
After a few installations, Eddie was intrigued about the Energy For All program and wondered if he would qualify for a home installation. Not soon after he started volunteering, he got a call for a pre-screening and received the great news! He was eligible for the Energy For All program. When asked how the process was he said, “the process was very easy and understandable. The outreach coordinator explained everything fully and walked me through all the steps leading up to the install. Because of his experience as a volunteer, he felt confident about the GRID team and was sure they would do an excellent job installing his solar system. Overall, he was satisfied with the whole process and continues saving money on his energy thanks to the work GRID has done.
Altogether, his volunteer and install experience with GRID Alternatives was great. If given the chance, he would love to further volunteer and work for GRID. He would recommend joining GRID because of the hands-on training you receive, which can be beneficial in multiple disciplines. Although his interest was construction exposure, he learned much more and feels that the entire time with GRID was amazing. He encourages those who are looking for skills in solar or construction to sign up to volunteer at GRID. He describes GRID as extremely amiable, informative, and all in all a great place to learn about the solar industry.
Visit our website if you want to volunteer or want more info about our Energy For All programs. You can also call us at (951) 471-7043.
Former Volunteer Turned GRID Recipient
