Jurupa Valley High School (JVHS) students built upon their solar installation skills as they participated in a Solar Futures event in Jurupa Valley. The students have been learning about renewable energy in their classrooms and GRID’s installation was an opportunity for students to put what they have learned to the test. Students participated in all aspects of the install including rack assembly, electrical wiring and rooftop assembly of a 5.1 kW solar system.
The Solar Futures program is made possible through the support of SunPower, whose contributions have reinforced GRID’s mission of delivering renewable energy to income qualified families. Representatives from both GRID Alternatives and SunPower, as well as California Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes were present at the Solar Futures event and participated alongside JVHS Students.
Sustainable energy is one of the fastest growing industries in the country. GRID’s Solar Futures initiative builds upon the industry’s momentum by providing a career path to high school students. Participants in the program gain knowledge through hands-on experience, enabling them to apply what they have learned in school into tangible projects. Solar Futures also provides an opportunity for students to understand community engagement and how a nonprofit can positively impact disadvantaged homeowners who struggle with high electric bills.
Pablo Lomeli, a JVHS senior Solar Futures student participated in the installation event. “I enrolled in this course at first because a friend was telling me about it,” he stated, “but I ended up really loving it and now I’m very interested in pursuing a career that focuses on engineering and the environment.” Pablo will be applying for college soon with a career aspiration of one day working for Tesla. Additionally, after high school, Pablo plans to go beyond class expectations and pursue an internship for GRID.
Solar Futures connects students to one of America’s fastest growing industries in the country while helping students develop valuable work skills. The students in Jurupa Valley made a definable contribution, installing a system that will generate over $67,000 savings in energy for homeowners while reducing harmful greenhouse gasses. Here in the Inland Empire, Solar Futures has trained over 660 students who have helped build about 50 solar projects. Their efforts have generated over 320 kilowatts of solar electricity for underserved communities.
The program is currently available at six different high schools throughout the Inland Empire. Class curriculum focuses on system design, building industry knowledge, and community engagement. Students or school administrators interested in learning more about GRID Alternatives and the Solar Futures program can contact GRID’s Inland Empire office directly at infoie@gridalternatives.org.