On April 6-11, GRID Alternatives Inland Empire (GRID IE) will be hosting its 3rd Annual Solarthon in the City of Desert Hot Springs! Solarthon is GRID IE’s flagship community installation and fundraising event, bringing the community together to install solar for 9 low-income families. The event's focus this year is on job training and we will be celebrating GRID's job trainees and volunteers and showcasing our local job training partnerships!
One of the beneficiaries of Solarthon is the Garcia family. Ms. Garcia is a Pharmacy Tech and her father works in construction. “My mom was my main reason why I applied for this home [through Coachella Valley Housing Coalition’s (CVHC) self-help housing program]. She was diabetic and had a stroke that left her in a wheel chair and she had other health problems as well. We live in a mobile home right now and I wanted to give her a better place to live in,” said Ms. Garcia. While Ms. Garcia’s mother unfortunately passed away last year, she and her father are really excited to be moving into their new home that they helped build this Spring. To help cut on their energy costs, GRID IE and our job trainees and sponsors will be installing a solar electric system on the Garcia’s home during Solarthon. “I'll be able to save money for any emergencies that can come up when I least expect it…right now I'm only able to save so much, everything else goes to bills,” said Ms. Garcia.
GRID IE 2015 Solarthon's impact will include hands-on training in solar installation for over 50 participants, including students from at least 3 local high schools in Desert Hot Springs, San Bernardino, and Riverside. In addition, 27 kW of clean, renewable solar power will be installed for a combined savings of $228,000 for the 9 families and over 700 tons of greenhouse gas emissions will be eliminated, equal to planting 16,600 trees, over the lifetime of the installed systems.
Interested in getting involved or sponsoring a job trainee to participate in Solarthon? There’s still time! Contact Kate Thibault at kthibault@gridalternatives.org or 951-471-7027, or go to www.solarthon.org/ie for more information!