In honor of Women’s History Month and Women in Construction Week, GRID caught up with Monica Slabaugh, a GRID NV Solar Installation Supervisor and Solar Installation Training Supervisor. She started as a Solarcorps Construction Fellow three years ago after leaving an office job that had her feeling drained and unfulfilled. She decided that a more active position working in environmental sustainability would be a better fit for her. 

In the years since California’s deadliest wildfire, GRID Alternatives North Valley has installed no-cost solar photovoltaic systems on 10 wildfire survivor’s new homes, including two solar + battery storage projects through our Disaster Recovery Initiative. What follows is a conversation with Richard Stone, a longtime Paradise resident whose family received a solar + battery storage system, lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

A recent graduate of our solar Installation Basics Training (IBT) program, Alexis, was hired by a local solar company soon after graduating.  

Alexis is a 32-year-old Sacramentan married father of one who commuted for 12 years to his job in the Bay Area as a hotel renovator. He only had Sundays off, so would only be able to come home Saturday evening and rest on Sundays. He was rarely home during the weekdays, and Alexis said he was ready for a change and looking for a job closer to home so he could be around more to enjoy his daughter’s childhood.

It’s easy to think that a significant amount of time and money is required to get the necessary qualifications to get into the solar industry. However, with GRID Alternatives North Valley, the process of becoming a solar installer can be a lot easier than expected. There are fewer barriers to becoming a solar installer, as most employers are looking for training or on-the-job experience, not a bachelor’s degree.

Lynn moved to the Town of Paradise in 2012 to retire in a small town surrounded by nature. She quickly became a fixture in the local yoga community, where she taught popular yoga classes. The morning of the 2018 Camp Fire she was on her way to teach a class when a neighbor called to let her know how quickly the fire was spreading and to evacuate immediately. What was normally a 20-minute drive down the hill took over 4 hours with backed up traffic; people trying to evacuate on the same small road.

Robbie has been pretty much homebound since the coronavirus hit, only going into town maybe once a month with her kids to get supplies. 

After having been forced to relocate after experiencing severe flooding in their home in rural Peru, Kristen and her family are no strangers to disaster. Kristen, a California native, met her husband Luis while living in Peru before moving the family back to Concow to their new “forever home.”

Their home in Concow was surrounded by “beautiful cedar trees, towering over the house and a meadow. It had deer running around in the front yard. Lots of trees and a big yard. Dad was excited about [the outdoors] to play with his grandkids,” says Kristen.

If you’re curious about getting involved in the solar industry, but not sure where to start, you’re not alone. With a primary background in customer service, and a growing passion for solar, GRID North Valley Outreach Coordinator, Alex, got his start in solar by joining GRID’s 200-hour Installation Basics Training (IBT 200) program. 

Ramiro was at home watching TV one night when he saw a news story about GRID Alternatives’ 100th no-cost solar installation in Stockton, and quickly reached out to see if he qualified for GRID’s Energy for All program. He is a hard-working family man, having served as a court clerk for the last 20 years, and as a taxi driver on the weekends, all while dealing with a pre-existing medical condition.