Community Solar

As the nation’s largest nonprofit solar installer, GRID was pleased to participate in the Community Solar Power Summit in San Diego, CA on January 18-19, 2023 and host a “Developer & Contractor Diversity Networking Fair,” on January 19. With more than 50 participants in the room, this event provided a dedicated space for a diverse network of contractors to connect with national and regional community solar developers.
Recently, GRID installed 20 off-grid solar-powered refrigerators for families in the Kumeyaay communities of Juntas de Neji and San Antonio Necua with support from Sempra Foundation. Refrigeration allows families to keep food, beverages, and medicine cold without having to drive 20-40 minutes to a nearby town to buy ice. The solar systems immediately save families time, money and improve health.

Growing interest in microgids is now forcing utilities and regulators to rethink how the grid of the future will be designed and operated. The recent increase in natural and human-triggered threats like wildfires and severe storms has added urgency to microgrid development.

Along with the Tanacross Village Council, Solomon is one of the first Alaska Native Tribes to receive funding for solar energy projects through GRID’s Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF).

TSAF is a tribal-led initiative that provides new funding to tribes to support their renewable energy projects. This is the third year TSAF has selected grantees, but the first year that Alaska Native communities are recipients in the grant cycle.

Despite the unprecedented action, inequality is not a new or unrecognized problem in the renewables industry. It remains to be seen whether these newest expressions of upset and accompanying initiatives to combat racism within and outside company ranks will continue.