Along with partner and equipment supplier ReneSola, Solar Power World Top 250 Contractor Positive Energy Solar announces an annual grant competition for a solar system to an Albuquerque non profit is now open. A 2.5-kW solar system will be awarded to one lucky nonprofit organization.
As New Mexico’s largest B Corp, Positive Energy Solar is committed to supporting the community. CEO Regina Wheeler says the grant competition is a powerful way for the solar installation company to reinvest in New Mexico and help ensure that nonprofits providing valuable community services remain viable. “A solar system can ‘zero out’ a utility bill, significantly reducing overhead for a nonprofit and enabling them to redirect the funds to their overall mission. We believe this is a great way for Positive Energy Solar to give back to our state and advance clean, sustainable energy use.”
The competition has several steps. Registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that own or have a long term lease on a building in Albuquerque are eligible to compete for the system. They must submit an online application form and a video to Positive Energy Solar by May 25. The nonprofits then will encourage their fans and supporters to “like” their video, which will be posted on Positive Energy Solar’s YouTube channel. The three videos with the most “likes” will move on to the next stage of the competition, which includes a site evaluation and an interview with the Positive Energy Solar Grant Committee. Finally, this is a matching funds grant and the nonprofit must match the award with $5,000 toward the project. Nonprofit organizations with questions should contact info@positiveenergysolar.com with “PV grant” in the subject line or visit www.PositiveEnergySolar.com. All questions must be submitted in writing.
Last year’s nonprofit winner of a free solar system in Santa Fe was Zona del Sol, a youth and family community center operated by the Santa Fe Youth & Family Center on the city’s south side. Earth Care Youth Allies and New Energy Economy helped them raise the required matching funds. Their new solar system, the first community solar installation on the city’s south side, will be dedicated at a ribbon cutting with Mayor Gonzales on April 26. La Semilla Food Center was chosen as the recipient of the PV Grant in Las Cruces earlier this year. Their array will be in the center of their educational farm, where thousands of children will be exposed to it and learn about sustainable energy while learning about sustainable food production in southern New Mexico. It is scheduled for installation in May 2014.
Positive Energy Solar has installed more than 1,000 residential and commercial solar systems across New Mexico and was recently named the SunPower® residential dealer of the year. Headquartered in Santa Fe, the company has additional locations in Albuquerque and Las Cruces.
Positive Energy Solar has also been recognized for creating the most positive environmental impact among Midsize Businesses (50+ employees) by the nonprofit B Lab with the release of the third annual “B Corp Best for the Environment” list. The list honors 84 businesses that earned an environmental impact score in the top 10 percent of all Certified B Corporations on the B Impact Assessment, a rigorous and comprehensive assessment of a company’s impact on its workers, community and the environment. Honorees were recognized among micro, small and mid-sized businesses.