By: Ava H.
GRID Alternatives is a national nonprofit organization based in California. The nonprofit was founded in 2001, during the California Energy Crisis, when market manipulations and capped retail electricity prices caused a shortage of electric supply. GRID Alternatives’ goal is to provide low-income homeowners and nonprofits with free solar installations and pathways to clean energy jobs. Already, the organization has installed over 13,000 systems, preventing more than one million tons of greenhouse gas emissions. By utilizing solar energy, GRID Alternatives helps “environmentally burdened communities see a brighter, cleaner future for generations to come.”
GRID Alternatives offers the Energy for All Program, aiming to put people first in solar power installations. For single-family homes, low-to-no cost solar electric systems are offered for vulnerable families. By installing these solar panels, these families receive immense energy savings on bills, making it easier to put food on the table and pay other essential expenses. Since many vulnerable communities experience higher environmental risks, these solar power installations would tremendously reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in these neighborhoods, which would result in an overall happier and healthier population. GRID also further implements solar power in struggling neighborhoods with its community initiatives, working with solar industry and utility partners that integrate workforce development that benefit the community holistically.
GRID has also made successful partnerships with community-based organizations, Indigenous tribes, all levels of government, and affordable housing providers. For instance, GRID provides the n Energy for All Program for multifamily housing, while also integrating job training and tenant engagement into every aspect of their work. Solar panels reduce operating costs, which allows affordable housing owners to keep rent flexible to the people living there.
Additionally, GRID is committed to equity in environmental policy and the energy industry by addressing systemic inequities, amplifying the voices of the communities they serve, and expanding access to solar energy with career and leadership opportunities. GRID has a Tribal Program, where they help Native American tribes “achieve their clean energy goals while providing financial savings and job training opportunities to improve their members’ quality of life.” Local and sustainable renewable energy allows tribes to keep local money in the community while also being able to invest in the long term environmental and economic benefits.
Although GRID does not address the main issue of the fossil fuel energy input within solar panel manufacturing, the nonprofit’s incredible impact certainly outweighs the communities maintaining fossil fuel operations. By incorporating solar panels on unused sections on rooftops, GRID Alternatives is able to demonstrate an attainable solution towards solar energy’s most pressing problem of the amount of land required for a public utilities scale endeavor. In total, GRID has saved over $400 million in lifetime savings for poor families. Over 30,000 individuals received hands-on experience within the nonprofit, launching new careers in solar. If people have the opportunity to learn more about the environmental benefits of solar power from a first hand experience, not only will they become more excited to shift the economy towards one that revolves around renewable energy, but there will also be a tremendous increase in solar energy jobs in the world.
Even though oil may be considered to be an extremely versatile fuel with a high energy density, the reality is that it is a nonrenewable energy source and the supply will eventually run out. As oil supply decreases, the prices will soar, making it increasingly difficult for low-income families to be able to drive their car to work. Yes, solar panels are not perfect, but compared to strictly using fossil fuels like humanity is now? There is no question of which energy source would provide a more sustainable future.
Even natural gas, the nonrenewable energy considered to be the “cleanest”, still produces 117,000 pounds per billion in 1998, and is probably even higher today, given that US natural gas consumption continues to increase.
Coal also has the potential to dethrone oil, and become the leader in non renewable energy, which is why it is increasingly important to expand solar energy initiatives such as GRID Alternatives, because a sustainable future cannot occur with the ongoing practices of burning coal, because in reality there is no such thing as clean coal, since humanity still needs to learn how to get it out of the ground with less environmental damage in quick manner. After all, it will take decades to reduce the carbon emissions from coals, and scientists are emphasizing that humanity does not have decades. In order to actually mitigate environmental impacts of energy, humans need to reduce energy usage, as solar panels cannot offset the increasing energy consumption occurring.
Therefore, the uplifting innovations of GRID Alternatives should be recognized by all, in order to not only raise awareness for the social, environmental, and economic benefits of solar energy implementations, but to successfully contribute in the effort of transitioning the nation’s economy to one powered by renewable energies.
Donate to GRID Alternatives here!
Discussion Questions:
GRID Alternatives works mostly in California, Colorado, DC, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Nicaragua, Nepal, and Mexico. While this is an impressive list, more of the world deserves the sustainable services that GRID Alternatives provide to underfunded communities. What are some additional locations that GRID could easily expand to and how?
One of the main benefits of solar panels is that they tremendously reduce energy usage, causing lots of money to be saved. Since most Republicans tend to favor the economy above all else, how can we use this insightful evidence about solar panels to further the renewable energy agenda and mitigate the politicization of climate change?
Due to COVID-19, GRID has unfortunately had to cancel all volunteer opportunities until further notice. What are some interactive virtual ideas that GRID could create in order to continue to educate vulnerable communities about the environmental and economic importance of solar panels? Other than donating, how can people continue to show support for this innovative nonprofit during the pandemic?
All photos from GRID Alternatives