Building a Resilient Community
What does resilience look like at a time when global climate change is fueling the frequency and severity of wildfire and major storm events in California and power outages have become the new normal?
Resilience is local. Resilience is community. Resilience is sustainable green energy.
Our homes and neighborhoods are our sanctuaries, spaces where we want to feel safe, secure and reliably comfortable. But that sense of basic security has been rattled in recent years by wave after wave of PG&E blackouts.
That feeling of uncertainty isn’t our only option.
Locally-owned and trusted for 20 years, California Solar Electric Company is working hard to empower and support financial and emotional resilience in our community by:
Providing piece of mind with affordable and dependable alternative energy options .
Strengthening a viable local economy by being a source of good paying and meaningful jobs for people who live in Nevada County.
Giving back to community organizations that make our world kinder and healthier.
Solar power and backup storage provides a buffer to the unpredictability of relying on giant corporate owned utility companies and gives homeowners, businesses and community institutions personal control and freedom. California Solar offers a range of products that are giving customers an opportunity to forge a new relationship with power and offset their power bills.
“They know where their power comes from. They know they’re going to have power no matter what,” said General Manager Lars Ortegren.
Studies show that solar + storage solutions can be safer and more cost effective than fossil fuel back-up generators, helps us get closer to achieving our state’s clean energy goals by reducing the carbon emissions that lead to climate change and can ensure a more equitable and resilient electric grid for all.
Cal Solar is providing good jobs and a meaningful place to work. The company is the first ever worker-owned cooperative in Nevada County, and the first worker-owned solar cooperative in California. We are committed to the economic vitality of our community and we believe in hiring and investing locally. Their entire staff of worker-owners resides in Nevada County.
Clean air, clean rivers, healthy soil, organic food, safe shelter and reliable energy for all (especially our most vulnerable populations) is important to Cal Solar. That’s why we partner with many local community organizations to build a better world including: Sierra Harvest, BriarPatch Food Co-op, South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), FREED and Hospitality House. Supporting our first responders and front line workers remains a top priority, too. Besides providing safe, consistent energy for our friends, families and neighbors, they work with local schools, fire departments and government institutions to install systems that keep vital infrastructure solid and our community humming.
“Partnering with Cal Solar and Good Sun to introduce solar at our shelter has been instrumental to our operations, especially with COVID-19. When the pandemic hit, we shifted into a 24/7 operation, which meant our utility usage and other associated expenses went up immediately to meet demand. Having solar savings in place has meant every dollar saved is another person served.” said Ashley Quadros, Development Director of Hospitality House.
Solar energy is proving to be a key strategy in advancing both the long and short term goals of community resilience. Learn more about the best set up for your home or office. Contact us today for a free quote!