GRID Alternatives' Solarthon 2010

Solarthon 2010 Participants...

Our installation team...

Installing some racking equipment...

Justine installs her first panel!

Lifting the panels onto the roof...

View from the roof...

I am a very happy woman. Yesterday, I participated in an event called Solarthon 2010, where teams of volunteers from the San Francisco Bay Area installed solar pv systems in a community development with low-income families. The event was a fundraising block party sponsored by an organization called GRID Alternatives, a local non-profit that is dedicated to empowering communities in need with renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment, and training.

As many of you know, I've been looking forward to this day for weeks, not only because of how passionate I am about the cause, but also because of how excited I was to be involved in a full rooftop solar installation from start to finish. As part of an overall installation crew of over 150 individuals, we broke into smaller teams to install nine 3-kilowatt solar systems in an affordable housing community in West Oakland. It was amazing to get some hands-on experience with a full installation from the racking phase to the commissioning phase, and to meet so many like-minded people who recognized the potential of solar energy to empower communities in need.

I am also proud to say that I won the award for 2nd highest fundraising effort with a total of $1080 raised! I am grateful to everyone who helped me to reach and ultimately surpass my original fundraising target of $1000, and for all of the additional support that I've received over the last few weeks. Thank you!!