Nonprofits Receive Funding For Solar Projects

PITTSBURGH — The Green Mountain Energy Sun Club based in Pittsburgh announced March 16 it will donate more than $422,000 to 10 nonprofit organizations across Pennsylvania and New York to fund the purchase and installation of new solar projects that will be completed throughout 2015. The Sun Club is a crowd-funding organization sponsored by Green Mountain Energy Company based in Austin, Texas.

Tony Napolillo, Sun Club program manager, is launching a Solar Road Show beginning this month and starting in Pittsburgh to visit each nonprofit donation recipient in each state, recognize the work they do for the community and award solar grants.

To date, the Sun Club program has donated more than $3.4 million to build more than 900 kilowatts (kW) of solar power for 75 solar projects since 2002, made possible by contributions from Green Mountain Energy Company’s residential customers, its employees and the company itself. Sun Club donation recipients are evaluated every year based on their need, mission and passion for educating their communities about the importance of renewable energy. Donation amounts and project completion timelines vary based on the type of solar installation and needs of the organization.

“Every one of our customers in New York and Pennsylvania helps make these solar projects possible just by choosing Green Mountain Energy Company as their electricity supplier,” Napolillo said in a statement. “I’m excited to see the positive impact these solar donations will have on our nonprofit recipients and our planet. It’s a wonderful example of what we can achieve when hundreds of thousands of people come together towards a common goal.”

2015 Sun Club Nonprofit Recipients:
New York
• EcoStation: NY Inc. (Brooklyn, N.Y.): $15,000 for solar-powered generators
• Friends of Brook Park (Bronx, N.Y.): $10,000 for solar-powered generators
• New Rochelle District (New Rochelle, N.Y.): $50,000 for solar-powered public artwork
• Tarrytown Music Hall (Tarrytown, N.Y.): $50,000 for rooftop solar

Pennsylvania
• Animal Rescue League Shelter and Wildlife Center (Verona, Pa.): $50,000 for rooftop solar
• Frick Environmental Center (Pittsburgh): $63,400 for rooftop solar and educational material for on-site workshops
• Millvale Community Library (Pittsburgh): $30,000 for rooftop solar
• Philadelphia Zoo (Philadelphia): $100,000 for solar-powered golf carts
• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (Philadelphia): $40,000 for rooftop solar at East Park Revitalization Alliance’s Ridge and Natrona education space
• Snipes Farm and Education Center (Morrisville, Pa.): $14,250 for a solar-powered chicken coop