LONG BEACH - The Southern California Green Economic Council will host an event today to educate the public on a program that helps low-income families shrink their electric bills with free-of-charge solar panels.
The group's monthly speaker series will feature GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit organization that leads teams of volunteers that install solar electric systems at homes of families with an income that is 80 percent of the local median level.
"A big chunk of their money is going toward paying their utility bills," said Stella Ursua, founder of the Southern California Green Economic Council.
In addition to the families receiving
For more information
To RSVP for the speaker series, email Ursua at stella@greeneducation.org.
Find more information about GRID Alternatives at gridalternatives.org.
The Southern California Green Economic Council website is atwww.facebook.com/pages/Southern-California-Green-Economic-Council/246714218698442.
relief from energy costs and cutting back on carbon emissions, GRID Alternatives volunteers, some of them veterans, also receive hands-on job training.
"It's kind of a neat way things are working out," Ursua said. "It's a win-win."
According to GRID Alternatives, since 2004 the organization has installed solar energy panels providing more than 8.5 megawatts of electricity for more than 3,000 families. The panels will prevent the release of 250,000 tons of greenhouse gasses over their lifetimes and save more than $80 million in energy costs.
More than 11,000 volunteers and job trainees have received solar installation experience, GRID Alternatives
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said.
After the event, to be held from 6-8 p.m. today at the Long Beach Community Action Partnership, 3012 Long Beach Blvd., participants will take a tour of the Spring Street Farm, a one-acre urban farm adjacent to the LBCAP campus.
To RSVP for the speaker series, email Ursua at stella@greeneducation.org.
Find more information about GRID Alternatives at gridalternatives.org.
The Southern California Green Economic Council website is atfacebook.com/pages/Southern-California-Green-Economic-Council/246714218698442.