GRID Alternatives, a national leader in making clean, affordable solar power and solar jobs accessible to low-income communities, announced today a $500,000 grant from Bank of America Charitable Foundation to support its SolarCorps Fellowship Program. This national grant builds on the bank’s past support for GRID in locations in California and Colorado.
GRID Alternatives, a national leader in making clean, affordable solar power and solar jobs accessible to low-income communities, announced today a $500,000 grant from Bank of America Charitable Foundation to support its SolarCorps Fellowship Program. This national grant builds on the bank’s past support for GRID in locations in California and Colorado.
The SolarCorps Fellowship Program has up to 60 fellows working with GRID in multiple states across the country. Participants gain hands-on training and leadership skills to jumpstart their clean energy careers, while working to expand access to solar power and job training in underserved communities. SolarCorps also receives funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service.
“It is critical that we work together to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and ensure more sustainable communities,” says Alex Liftman, Global Environmental executive at Bank of America. “Through job training and other support, this program is creating economic mobility in underserved communities and making a positive difference by reducing energy costs, providing high-growth jobs, and helping to preserve the environment now and for generations to come. We’re excited to support this innovative program.”
Fellows of the SolarCorps Fellowship Program spend a year of paid service in GRID Alternatives’ offices, helping install solar electric systems for an estimated 1,500 low-income households and providing solar training to the 5,000 volunteers and job trainees who participate in GRID projects. The program started in 2006 with support from AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA, and was expanded in 2015 to become GRID’s premier job training experience, preparing individuals from diverse backgrounds for successful careers in renewable energy. Past fellows have advanced to become installers, electricians, project leads, directors and principals at leading solar companies, energy consultancies, finance firms and other renewable energy businesses.
“The SolarCorps program is an incubator for our next generation of leaders, helping to create a clean energy economy that includes and benefits all of our communities,” said GRID Alternatives CEO and Co-founder Erica Mackie. “We’re thrilled to have Bank of America as a strategic partner in this work.”
About GRID Alternatives
GRID Alternatives is the nation’s largest nonprofit solar installer, bringing clean energy technology and job training to underserved communities through a network of community partners and philanthropic supporters. GRID has installed over 9400 solar electric systems for low-income families and affordable housing providers with a combined installed capacity of 40MW, saving $320 million in lifetime electricity costs, preventing 840,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and providing nearly 35,000 people with solar training. GRID has nine regional offices and affiliates serving California, Colorado, the Mid-Atlantic and Tribal communities nationwide, as well as an international program. For more information, visit www.gridalternatives.org.
About Bank of America
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter at @BofA_News.
Published Dec 14, 2017 7pm EST / 4pm PST / 12am GMT / 1am CET
Sustainable Brands Staff