EPA’s McCarthy, HUD’s Castro at Solar Energy Home Builds for Low-Income Families in D.C.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2014 /3BL Media/ - 

Thurs., Sept. 18, 10:30 a.m., Ivy City community, Northeast, Washington, D.C.

Today, more than 15 gigawatts of solar energy have been installed in the U.S., enough to power 3.2 million homes. However, important national policy issues remain around its reach into underserved communities. Join us to highlight a very compelling community partnership program that demonstrates how low-income communities can gain access to solar energy and skilled jobs in a growth industry. Great visuals with top officials from the Obama Administration, job trainees, community partners and volunteers in hard-hats on rooftops installing solar energy systems.

WHO:  The following speakers are confirmed:

·         HUD Secretary Julián Castro

·         EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy

·         Erica Mackie, Co-Founder & CEO, and Nicole Steele, Executive Director for Mid-Atlantic, GRID Alternatives

·         Susanne Slater, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.

The following VIPs will also be available to the media:

·         Dan Utech, Special Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change

·         Mike Boots, Acting Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

·         Mike Golden, President, Greater Washington, DC – Wells Fargo

WHAT: GRID Alternatives launches its mid-Atlantic presence by installing solar photovoltaic systems on 10 Habitat for Humanity of Washington D.C. homes in the economically challenged Ivy City community in Northeast Washington, D.C.  The nation’s largest solar non-profit, GRID has a decade-long track-record successfully deploying solar in low-income communities in Calif., Col., NJ and NY. Its expansion into the mid-Atlantic was seeded by a major grant from Wells Fargo. Project participants include job trainees from Sasha Bruce Youthwork, employee volunteers from Wells Fargo and other community and corporate volunteers.

WHERE: 1810 Providence Pl. NE, Washington, D.C.

WHEN: Kick-off event Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (remarks from U.S. Agency leaders at 10:30). RSVP for other opportunities during the week.

*** Great video and photo opportunities for broadcast, print, and online media ***

WHY:  This project and GRID Alternatives’ expansion to the mid-Atlantic raise important policy issues around making clean energy and the high-growth solar industry more accessible to all communities.

The project demonstrates:

·         Relevant job training in a growth industry for young people in the greatest need.

·         The need to expand and adapt solar policies that are effective in reaching underserved communities.

·         Cooperative effort by community partners in finance, housing and government.

·         How to create access for low-income communities to clean energy options.

·         An effective way to help low-income families save significantly on their energy bills.

Additional Context

This event occurs shortly after second quarter reports of significant growth by the U.S. solar industry; ahead of the 24th Annual Solar and Green Homes Tour (51 locations in Washington, D.C. area on Oct. 4-5 and around the nation sponsored by the American Solar Energy Society); and coincides with the George Washington University Solar Institute’s Annual Symposium focused on low-income communities, Sept. 23-4, and the release of new reports from the Center for American Progress about access to solar by low-income and rural families.

RSVP and Interviews

To arrange interviews and RSVP to attend, contact Julian Foley at jfoley@gridalternatives.org and at 510-731-1188. While the press conference and formal remarks occur Sept. 18, the media is welcome to visit anytime during the installation on Sept. 18-19 (Thurs. and Fri.) and Sept. 22-23 (Mon. and Tues.) between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Background

GRID Alternatives is a nonprofit organization that makes renewable energy technology and job training accessible to low-income communities. We bring together community partners, volunteers and job trainees to implement solar power and energy efficiency for low-income families, providing energy cost savings, valuable hands-on experience, and a source of clean, local energy that benefits us all. More than 4,500 families have benefited from our work to date, saving $113 million in lifetime electricity costs, and over 17,500 people have received solar training. GRID Alternatives has 10 regional offices and affiliates serving California, Colorado, the New York tri-state region, the mid-Atlantic region, and Tribal communities nationwide. For more information, visit www.gridalternatives.org.

Wells Fargo provided a $2 million investment expansion grant to GRID Alternatives to help bring clean, affordable solar energy to communities that can benefit the most from energy solutions that are environmentally and economically sustainable.

Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. believes that everyone deserves a house they want to call home. That's why we work to reduce poverty housing in the nation's capital by building affordable, energy- and resource-efficient homes for people in need. DC Habitat builds and rehabilitates homes in order to sell them at affordable terms to low-income, working families. Visit us at www.dchabitat.org for more information.

Note: Latest quarterly solar energy growth data reported by the Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research at www.seia.org.