Twenty years ago, Bob and Lorrayne Murphy opened their home in San Carlos, California, to GRID Alternatives, a new organization working to make solar energy accessible to underserved communities. They were GRID Alternatives’ first clients. GRID Alternatives returned to that same home to upgrade the original solar installation this week.
Bob and Lorrayne Murphy of San Carlos, California, stand in front of their solar-powered home. The Murphys were GRID Alternatives’ first client.
“This home is where our mission began,” said Tim Sears, GRID Alternatives co-founder and Co-CEO. “Coming back 20 years later is a powerful reminder of what can happen when we invest in people and communities for the long term.”
What began with one home and one solar installation has grown into 20 years of work connecting communities with clean energy, economic opportunity and workforce development.
“It’s hard to believe it has been 20 years since GRID Alternatives first brought solar to our home,” said Bob and Lorrayne Murphy. “We’ve seen firsthand what that investment has meant for our family, and it’s incredibly meaningful to have GRID come back after all these years to help us upgrade the system. We’re grateful to have been part of GRID’s story from the beginning.”
BMO, a GRID Alternatives partner, joined the milestone celebration. Working with GRID, BMO provides funding to help support projects like the system upgrade on the Murphy home.
“GRID Alternatives has shown what is possible when clean energy solutions are rooted in community needs,” said Melissa Fifield, head of the BMO Climate Institute. “Through our longstanding relationship with GRID, BMO has supported programs that drive progress by expanding access to clean energy, strengthening community resilience and creating opportunities through workforce development. The Murphy family’s story is a powerful reminder that these investments can continue creating value for years to come.”
Since its start at the Murphy home, GRID has grown to serve more than 14,000 families in the Bay Area alone, generating more than $328 million in lifetime energy savings. The organization has broadened its reach both domestically and internationally, providing clean energy solutions to 38,000 plus households and generating more than $887 million in lifetime energy savings for historically underserved communities to date.
“Twenty years of impact gives us an opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come, and to think boldly about where we go next,” said Erica Mackie, GRID Alternatives co-founder and co-CEO. “The Murphy family helped us prove what was possible 20 years ago. Today, their home reminds us that our work is about more than installing solar, it’s about building a future where every community can benefit from the clean energy transition. We’re proud of this legacy and excited about what we can accomplish together in the years ahead.”
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