Even as Washington pivots from reducing the impacts of climate change to “bringing back” fossil fuels like coal, solar power is on the rise. It’s inspiring to see some of our Top Solar Contractors finding ways to expand access into underserved communities.
SouthWest Sun Solar (No. 115 on the 2017 Top Solar Contractors list) has a mission to provide solar for all. Founder Hieu Nguyen wanted the business to become a “solar company that spoke to all minorities.”
When Nguyen came to the United States from Vietnam, he was interested in solar but didn’t find any companies that spoke to him as an ethnic minority. So he started his own company to fill the vacuum.
He initially served mostly Vietnamese customers, but then expanded to other minority markets as interest increased.
“Part of our success is because the markets haven’t been touched, and we hire the salespeople who speak the same language to go in there to explain the benefits of solar,” Nguyen said. “That’s how we started.”
He’s found many communities are skeptical of solar at first, but once his team explains the process and benefits to them in their own languages through the frame of their cultures, they are more likely to buy into it.
Nguyen saw other local solar companies knocking on hundreds of doors, and he chose to take a different marketing route. SouthWest Sun Solar instead advertises on local radio stations or TV stations in the target audience’s native language.
Nguyen’s advice for other installers: “I think they should pay more attention to minorities. Don’t underestimate the small communities.”
Diversity within companies
While Nguyen caters to minority customers, other Top Solar Contractors focus on hiring a diverse set of employees.
Eco Estates International (No. 337 on the 2017 Top Solar Contractors list) employs veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, women, African Americans, Asian Americans and Latino Americans, according to president David Pham. “Most people want to do good, contribute to society and support their family. Our company will hire the best right people for the positions in our company,” he said.
Meanwhile, SunOn Energy (No. 410 on the 2017 Top Solar Contractors list) gives back to the community by prioritizing hiring military veterans. It is a veteran-owned company, and employees have family members who have served, according to Jerret Goodale, CRO. “It’s a great way for us to give back to those who have given so much to us,” said Goodale. He also mentioned the business has multiple women in management positions.
Community outreach
Still, other Top Solar Contractors give their time and talents to communities in need.
GenPro Energy Solutions (No. 450 on the 2017 Top Solar Contractors list) has been working since 2014 with SunPower and Mosaic on a project in one of the poorest communities in the country. It installed panels at Thunder Valley CDC, a community organization on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Thunder Valley’s mission is “empowering Lakota youth and families to improve the health, culture and environment of our community, through the healing and strengthening of cultural identity,” according to Thunder Valley CDC’s Facebook page.
GenPro not only donated time and materials to the project, but also trained residents to install solar so they can help construct future installations.
Another contractor, GRID Alternatives (No. 153 on the 2017 Top Solar Contractors list), works diligently to educate communities that may have never heard of solar power. Adewale OgunBadejo works as the group’s workforce development manager and is committed to giving underserved communities a stake in the renewable revolution. He compares the growth of solar to the internet boom in the 1990s.
“People in traditionally underserved communities did not have access until it was too late, so they weren’t able to capitalize off [the internet boom],” OgunBadejo said in an interview in April. “There are still communities that are not even aware that there’s a green revolution going on.”
GRID Alternatives wants to change that. OgunBadejo said the company’s outreach and education work is twofold: It goes into traditionally underserved communities and installs solar through solar homes programs. Then, once curiosity is piqued, OgunBadejo and his team can get to work educating the community on the benefits of solar.
Installers interested in contributing more to energy justice may feel overwhelmed about where to start. But just like every person can start small to reduce their environmental impact by recycling, using less water or eating less meat, installers can start small to advance solar equity. Some easy ways to begin: Make sure your job postings can be seen by a diverse range of prospects, explore philanthropic solar installation options or think of other new, creative ways to bring solar to those who need it most.
If all of our Top Solar Contractors take small steps, we can make a big impact to advance energy justice for all. What will you do?
Gwen Singleton says
I think solar power is the way to go! I am an unemployed female and would like information on perhaps getting solar panels installed through one of your free programs. I currently have a sleeping room to help temporarily homeless due to foreclosures or other unexpected homelessness. Please help.