SunPower Installed Rooftop Solar Systems for Low-Income Families
SunPower, in partnership with GRID Alternatives and Blackland Community Development Corporation, brings electricity cost savings to affordable homes.
By Anca Gagiuc, Associate Editor
Austin, Texas—Four low-income families from Austin’s Blackland Neighborhood are now connected to solar energy. About 80 SunPower employees have volunteered to work over the course of two days with national solar nonprofit GRID Alternatives and install four rooftop solar systems totaling 13 kilowatts of generating capacity.
“These installations highlight the positive economic impacts that solar can generate for families struggling to pay their monthly bills, put food on their table or save for their children’s futures,” said Erica Mackie, co-founder & CEO of GRID Alternatives. “We’re thrilled to be here in Austin with SunPower, our longest-running philanthropic partner, helping its employees make a real impact in their own backyard.”
The four homes are part of the 48 affordable homes built by the Blackland Community Development Corporation (CDC) to serve low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
“We are really appreciative of the help,” said Bo McCarver, board president of Blackland CDC. “Thanks to the assistance of GRID Alternatives and SunPower, we’re able to provide electricity cost savings to struggling families.”
SunPower and GRID Alternatives have partnered since 2006 in an effort to extend the benefits of solar power to disadvantaged communities, helping more than 800 families and generating 80,000 hours of solar job training opportunities. SunPower also contributed 1 megawatt of high efficiency solar panels to GRID Alternatives in 2015 to support Solar Futures, a national education initiative targeting high school juniors and seniors.
“This is a meaningful opportunity to provide hands-on support, in addition to our leading technology, to local families in the community where more than 350 SunPower employees live and work,” said Erin Mulligan Nelson, chief marketing officer & executive vice president. “We’re proud that SunPower’s innovative solutions are leading a solar revolution that is changing the way our world is powered.”