Everybody Solar has raised enough funds to build a solar array on the headquarters of non-profit Wildlife Associates.
Everybody Solar, an award-winning solar energy nonprofit, has announced that JinkoSolar and All Points North Foundation (APNF) have stepped up to bring solar to fellow Bay Area nonprofit Wildlife Associates. In September, Everybody Solar kicked off a crowdsourced fundraising campaign to bring a solar array to Wildlife Associates and cut their electric bill by 90%. These donations pushed the campaign past its goal of $78,500, allowing construction on the 27 kW solar array to commence. The hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings will support the organization’s mission of wildlife conservation and education.
A private foundation that strengthens communities by supporting solar educational programs, APNF has awarded Everybody Solar with a prestigious $30,000 grant. The grant will cover the installation and ancillary equipment costs of the Wildlife Associates array. APNF works to drive awareness, education, training and hands-on application of solar as a practical and cost-efficient energy source, and saw a natural fit with the Everybody Solar project.
“APNF is proud to help Wildlife Associates go solar. The installation will significantly reduce the organization’s electricity costs, allowing more resources to go toward its mission. Wildlife Associates will be able to reach more students, teaching them about the care of wild animals as well as being stewards of the earth through the use of renewable solar power,” said Mark Dudzinski, APNF solar subcommittee chair and board member.
With JinkoSolar’s donation of 90 high-efficiency modules, Everybody Solar can now break ground on the Wildlife Associates installation. Valued at approximately $20,000, JinkoSolar’s second major contribution to Everybody Solar will generate over $150, 000 worth of electricity over the course of twenty years. The 72-cell high-efficiency modules from JinkoSolar will be paired with Enphase Energy’s new line of C250 micro-inverters to generate the most power possible for Wildlife Associates. JinkoSolar’s 305 Watt modules will maximize the amount of clean energy produced from Wildlife Associate’s limited roof space while Enphase’s C250 micro-inverters optimize the energy production and monitor the production of each individual module.
“It is with great pleasure that we renew our partnership with Everybody Solar for this notable cause. Their ongoing efforts to service the community while bringing sustainable energy to the forefront are truly commendable,” said Nigel Cockroft, General Manager of JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. “We are humbled that our contribution will benefit Wildlife Associates, an organization both close to our home and heart.”
“We’re extremely grateful to the All Points North Foundation for all of its important work to bring solar to communities across the country. We’re also excited to partner again with Jinko Solar on the Wildlife Associates project and utilize their cutting edge solar module technology,” says Youness Scally, Executive Director of Everybody Solar. “With the Foundation grant and in-kind module donation, Wildlife Associates will be able to significantly expand their wildlife programs and further educate the public about the benefits of solar energy and conservation. We’re honored to be the beneficiary of these two champions of clean energy.”
With the crowdsourcing effort now realized, Everybody Solar will begin breaking ground on the project in April with project completion and ribbon cutting targeted for later this spring.