The mission of GRID Alternatives is to empower communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training. GRID Alternatives works collaboratively with communities and local organizations to identify specific needs and to develop renewable energy solutions that are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. We believe that environmental stewardship, women's rights, and humanitarian protection are integral to these sustainable solutions.

Since piloting the Solar Affordable Housing Program iin 2004, we have installed 207 solar electric systems with low-income families throughout Northern and Southern California. These systems are reducing each family’s electric bills by approximately 75%, which will translate to a total of over $3.40 million in energy cost savings over the systems’ projected life spans. They will also prevent roughly 10,357 tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years, the equivalent of planting 14,455 trees. 

GRID Alternatives has also trained over 2,030 community volunteers and job trainees on the theory and practice of solar electric installation, and provided them with opportunities to gain hands-on experience with real-world solar installation projects. Our volunteers gain valuable skills and experience that they can bring back to their homes, businesses and communities, and help build broad-based, grassroots leadership and support for renewable energy.

Our Energy Efficiency Team Program has installed energy efficiency upgrades for over 290 low-income seniors and disabled folks. These small changes provide these households, which primarily live on fixed incomes, with approximately $38,000/year in energy savings.

GRID Alternatives was founded during the 2001 California energy crisis by Erica Mackie, P.E., and Tim Sears, P.E., two engineering professionals who were implementing renewable energy systems for the private sector. They wanted to develop a model to make this technology practical for low-income communities, where households were most adversely affected by high energy prices and utility rate shocks and where neighborhoods were often the location of polluting fossil-fuel power plants. This model became GRID Alternatives’ flagship Solar Affordable Housing Program, which trains and leads teams of community volunteers and job trainees to install solar electric systems with low-income homeowners.