GRID Alternatives Inland Empire held its Earth Day Installation and Open House on Friday, April 19, 2013 attracting a veritable whos who of distinguished political leaders and representatives from the California Congress, Assembly and Senate. Local elected officials from City of Jurupa Valley City Council, as well as community leaders also joined in this historic day. The event gave attendees the opportunity to see first-hand how GRID Alternatives makes every day Earth Day by witnessing a solar system being placed on the roof, the impact of job trainees receiving invaluable workforce development at no cost, and the hardworking and deserving family who will save on their electric bill while positively contributing to the environment.
To commemorate this landmark event State Senator Richard D. Roth from the Thirty-First Senate District attended and was the special guest speaker! I am grateful for the opportunity to see the teamwork and commitment of GRID Alternatives during the solar panel installation in Jurupa Valley. It is very impressive to see the work GRID Alternatives is doing throughout Inland Southern California and what solar energy is doing to save working families money through lower energy bills. GRID Alternatives helps create excellent partnerships to build strong families and communities throughout our region and throughout California.
The event provided the opportunity to share the success story of past volunteer and team leader, Carmen Valles, who as a result of GRID IE's classroom on the roof hands-on training experience, was able to be hired on full time within the solar industry. She shared with the crowd that GRID IE is known for reducing one of the most expensive utility bills, electricity, but at the same time...training an army of solar installers. Carmen proudly declared, They [GRID IE] helped me re-invent myself from a ex-bank executive to a fully rounded solar employee."
Also in attendance from the Sixtieth District, the district where the home, a Habitat for Humanity Home is in, was AssemblyMember Eric Linder and Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Riverside, Karin Roberts. Joining them were representatives from AssemblyMember Cheryl Brown of the Forty-Seventh District, Congressman Mark Takano of the Forty-first district, The California Public Utilities Commission, and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.
The Earth Day Event installed a 3.2 kW solar electric system which will generate more than 170,000 kWh of clean, renewable energy over the systems lifetime. This equals over $29,800 in total savings for the family. In addition, 101 tons of greenhouse gas emissions will be prevented over the systems lifetimes, equivalent to planting 2,365 trees. This solar installation was made possible in part by a grant from the S.L. Gimbel Foundation Advised Fund at the Community Foundation serving the Counties of Riverside and San Bernardino.