On a cloudy January day in Kelseyville, a small town in California’s North Coast, an excited crew of GRID volunteers gathered to install 3 solar systems for low-income families from the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians. The homeowners preparing to go solar that day, including Joseph Peredia, were witnessing a GRID first: an installation crew made up entirely of tribal members.
With these three installations, GRID offered our unique model of solar workforce development to tribal members in California’s North Coast through hands-on installation experience. Beginning with its official launch in April, the BA - North Coast satellite office will continue this effort, installing 30 solar systems for low-income families while providing job skill-building opportunities to tribal members.
Many of the volunteers for those first three installs were members of an energy efficiency and renewable training program, led by Irenia Quitiquit, Scotts Valley’s Environmental Director. “The training program works to open the door to real jobs in renewable energy, and gaining solar installation experience with GRID presents a great opportunity,” shared Irenia. “Collaboration between tribal and non-tribal entities is essential to create effective pathways to employment.” The volunteers who came out for the first installations came from several tribes in the region – and included two of the homeowners who were getting solar - all coming together to not only learn how to install solar but also to contribute to this community effort.
With an average unemployment rate for tribal members at an estimated 42.4% and the solar industry continuing to expand rapidly, there is a huge opportunity for positive impact with green workforce development.
The impacts of GRID - BA’s satellite office also include offsetting harmful emissions and providing savings for families like the Peredia’s, one of the first three homes to go solar in Kelseyville in January. Joseph Peredia, a Scott’s Valley tribal member, has been living off of a fixed income since a car accident left him disabled. With the challenge of supporting himself and providing for his 7-year old daughter, the estimated $40,000 in savings Joseph’s system will provide them over its lifetime is dearly needed. Seeing the system completed on his roof, Joseph shared, “this is the best thing that happened to me this year.”
While these installations were the first with tribal members serving as the volunteer crew, GRID’s Bay Area office has installed over 80 solar systems for Native American tribal members in the North Coast to date. As we deepen our commitment in this region with our satellite office, we look forward to serving tribal members and residents in affordable housing throughout Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Lake Counties.
A special thank you to an anonymous lead donor through the San Francisco Foundation whose financial support is making this satellite office a reality and to the Tribal Councils for their leadership and collaboration. Together, we are supporting a transition to clean, renewable energy that includes everyone.
For photos from Kelseyville and other regional installations, check out our Flickr page.