By Helen Gao

[Available in Spanish. Scroll to the bottom for the link.]

At first glance, Hugo Sandoval’s home on Pepper Drive in the Azalea Park neighborhood of City Heights doesn’t look much different from the others on the block. It’s modest but well-kept, blending in with the rest of the neighborhood. But closer examination reveals that Sandoval’s home is special – it has solar panels on the rooftop, which are still relatively rare in City Heights.

The married father of three who works as a food server was able to bring solar energy to his family, thanks to GRID Alternatives, whose mission is provide renewable energy, energy efficiency services, equipment and job training to communities in need. The nonprofit organization helps low-income families, such as the Sandovals, apply for rebates through the state-funded Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) program. GRID Alternatives serves as the SASH program manager on behalf of the California Public Utilities Commission.

For the Sandoval family, there were no out-of-pocket expenses to get solar panels installed because their income qualified them for a free system under the SASH program. Sandoval said he was surprised by how easy the application process was.

“That was incredible. I was very very excited. I couldn’t believe we could have those panels that quick,” he said.

He had heard about GRID Alternatives from a neighbor and attended a community meeting where he learned all about the incentives for low-income homeowners. Within about two weeks of submitting an application, he got a call notifying him he was approved.

GRID Alternatives sent inspectors to his house to check the rooftop and the electrical system to make sure they could support the solar panels and that no trees or shrubs would block the panels.  A contract was then signed. On June 14, the work crews came for the installation.

The Sandovals received a 15-panel photovoltaic system with the capacity to generate 2.95 kW. According to GRID Alternatives, its systems can save clients an average of 70 to 90 percent in electric bills.

“If you are now saving money on electricity, you are better able to afford items like fresh, healthy food for your family. This savings can go a long way for families struggling in this economic climate,” Marty Becerra, development officer for GRID Alternatives, said.

Funded by utilities companies, including San Diego Gas & Electric, the SASH program targets residents in the most impoverished communities in California. The state has set aside $108 million to fund SASH.

Aside from making solar energy accessible to low-income residents, a major part of what GRID Alternatives does is training residents for jobs in the solar industry. The nonprofit partners with local organizations, such as the Urban Corps of San Diego County, and its subcontractors to provide the training. Its solar installations typically involve trainees and volunteers, and often times, sponsors who help cover cost gaps for the homeowners.

“Job training is a very large component of what we do. A lot of the people in our training programs have gone on to land jobs in the solar industry,” Becerra said.

So far Grid Alternatives has completed 32 solar installations in the City Heights area. It has scheduled at least six in Azalea Park during its Solarthon event scheduled Saturday.

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