Palm Desert city officials, homeowners and other partners and dignitaries joined GRID Alternatives, the nation’s largest non-profit solar installer, to celebrate the completion of the largest deployment of solar power in a single affordable housing community in the state. Eighty-four families in Palm Desert’s Desert Rose community have now received solar electric systems through GRID Alternatives, which manages the single-family component of California’s low-income solar program (SASH).
“This is a great success for the community, for GRID Alternatives and the SASH program,” said SASH Program Director Cathleen Monahan. “California is leading the nation in bringing solar to communities that can most benefit from the savings and job opportunities it provides.”
The systems, totalling 246kW, will save families 75-90% on their electrical bills, or an estimated $2 million over their anticipated 30-year lifetimes. The power they generate will also contribute to cleaner air in a region that has among the state’s highest air pollition levels, offsetting carbon equivalent to removing 1,150 cars from the road for one year.
Homeowner Pearl Verre, a senior, says the savings will help her stay in her home longer. “My gosh, it’s like having my own ATM machine,” she said. “My last bill was 53 cents!”
The systems were installed by GRID Alternatives Subcontractor Partner RGS Energy, which provided a paid position to a solar job training program graduate for each project.
“This project has been an amazing partnership from start to finish, with everyone from the city, to the homeowners association, the roofer and the subcontractor pitching in to make solar a reality for all these families, while giving new installers a jump start on their careers,” said Bambi Tran, Regional Director for GRID Alternatives’ Inland Empire office.