Near the Mojave Desert on the California and Arizona border, lies the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation with a few hundred homes clustered on its vast 32,000 acres bordering Lake Havasu. GRID Alternatives Inland Empire first learned about Chemehuevi last year from one of our many energetic volunteers, Valthyna Cade. Valthyna, a solar job trainee and a relatively new volunteer with GRID at that time, lived on the Reservation for a number of years. She was determined to bring GRID's program to her family and friends there so they could save money on their bills and gain tangible job skills to move towards greater self-sufficiency.
But skepticism abound when Shirley and GRID IE had initial discussions with the tribe. Few believed that a program like GRID's was a legitimate opportunity. Shirley Smith, Chemehuevi Tribal Council Vice-Chair shared, "When I first heard about GRID's program, I thought it was too good to be true." Through everyone's hard work and persistence, a partnership built on trust and respect was established between GRID IE and the Chemehuevi Tribal Council. And Valthyna's dream became a reality in early December 2013 as GRID IE construction staff, working alongside Valthyna (who doned her trademark Redskins hardhat) and over a dozen other tribal job trainees, installed 3 solar systems for income-qualified Chemehuevi families!
Valthyna's son, Steven Escobar, was the first homeowner to qualify for GRID?s program at Chemehuevi - and the first one installed! Standing proudly in front of his installed system, he stated, "I'm very grateful to get the solar panels. I wouldn't be able to afford them in my lifetime without the help of GRID Alternatives. My family will be able to save a lot of money, which we need especially with a newborn at home. And all of this will help better the environment for our future generations!" Tribal Council Vice-Chair Smith added, "Looking at this first installation today, I know GRID's program is NOT too good to be true. It's going to help the families and workers here in our tribe tremendously." (In the neighboring photo from left to right: Valthyna Cade - Volunteer, Jeff Apoian - GRID Construction staff, & Steven Escobar - GRID Homeowner, son of Valthyna Cade)
GRID IE wraps up 2013 having completed solar demonstration projects with both the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe as well as the Bishop Paiute Tribe in Bishop, CA. Together, 8 low-income tribal families were empowered to go solar, saving them over $270,000 in lifetime electricity costs and eliminating 845 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to planting 12,000 trees or taking 150 cars off the road for one year! Furthermore, more than 20 tribal job trainees gained the knowledge, skills and experience needed to break into the solar workforce.
Help GRID bring solar power and solar job training to tribal communities in the Inland Empire and nationally! Give, get involved, and connect us to your tribal leaders (contact us at infoie@gridalternatives.org or 1-888-496-4743).