Taiyoko Sadewic, co-founder of Positive Energy Solar, and Marlene Brown, former New Mexico Solar Energy Association president, taught a group of students the intricacies of photovoltaic solar systems
New Mexico solar industry pioneers trained eager students with hands-on workshops sponsored by Solarize NM at the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice. Now, the Center is celebrating its expansion from one kilowatt (kW) to a full three kilowatts of solar energy with a sustainability reception on Friday, June 12. The public is invited to attend the celebration at the Center’s 202 Harvard Drive SE location from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Taiyoko Sadewic, co-founder of Positive Energy Solar, and Marlene Brown, former New Mexico Solar Energy Association president, have conducted a series of workshops designed to introduce students to the basics of installing photovoltaic solar systems. At the end of the series, students assisted in the 2kW expansion onsite at the Center for Peace and Justice, effectively upgrading the same system that Brown installed ten years before.
“This upgrade will cover an additional 35 percent of the Center’s energy usage,” said Sadewic. “Positive Energy Solar was able to give the equipment and permitting fees at cost to the Center, which has been an exemplary community organizer for peace since 1983. Positive Energy Solar is proud to support their mission.”
Annually, Positive Energy Solar commits more than $30,000 in labor and in-kind assistance to New Mexico non-profit organizations whose core values support environmental and social change for good. Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice secured the solar equipment and permits at cost from Positive Energy Solar after receiving a $5,000 Reduce Your Use grant from PNM. Additional technical advice and labor from Positive Energy Solar employees was “key in significantly reducing the Center’s carbon footprint” according to Brown, the project coordinator.
Solarize NM students, Positive Energy Solar employees and PNM will join the staff at the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice for the sustainability reception on Friday. Students will present their experience of installing the solar system through a short video and will be on hand for questions.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our team involved in an upgrade like this,” said Regina Wheeler, Positive Energy Solar CEO. “We want to make this happen for every non-profit organization in New Mexico who wants to reduce their carbon footprint and conduct their work supported by an environmentally friendly infrastructure.”
