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Community Solar for Puerto Rico

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Help bring solar energy to Puerto Rico for immediate disaster relief and for education to create community owned "solar gardens".

My name is Joy Hughes, the founder of the Solar Gardens Institute. For eight years SGI has worked to implement community solar policy, train students, and develop community owned solar projects. In December I traveled to Puerto Rico and visited remote communities that had been devastated by Hurricane Maria. I will be returning in March to bring solar aid and to work with our interns at the University of Puerto Rico.

Relief
SGI is working to provide solar-powered aid to the most vulnerable elderly and children in mountain communities still without power. We are bringing solar lanterns, solar fans, and small solar panels to run battery powered medical equipment for children with asthma.

Recovery
We are helping to distribute off-grid solar kits for community centers. The installations will provide refrigeration, water purification, device charging, and WiFi to remote communities that have been out of power for several months.

Resilience

Through our interns at the University of Puerto Rico, we are working to create a new energy system based on renewable energy and microgrids, which will resist damage from future storms.

A solar garden is like a community garden - but instead of a patch of vegatables, you own a patch of solar panels in a shared solar array in your area. The energy they produce is credited to your electric bill as if the panels were on your own roof. By subscribing to a solar garden, you save money and the environment at the same time! Now, the concept of shared ownership is coming to renewable-powered micro-grids.

The Solar Gardener Training is a one-semester course that trains local leaders in solar gardens policy, project development, and community organizing. In 2018 we will be training 50 solar gardeners. Each solar gardener will work to develop a community owned microgrid in their home community. Renewable energy for the people, by the people!

Your donation will help me travel to Puerto Rico to provide energy where and when it is needed most, while preparing for a clean energy future. Puerto Rico can become a 100% renewable example showing the world a pathway to a clean energy future.

- Other ways to help -

Donate air miles - to help support my travel and that of volunteers.

Donate equipment - Send solar panels, inverters, and other system components where they're needed most

Volunteer - We need solar experts to design, maintain and install equipment, videographers and video editors, bilingual volunteers for translation, and more!

Become a partner - Both nonprofit and for-profit businesses can share expertise, sponsor a kit, or cross-promote.

Share this fundraiser - with your friends, groups, and email lists

Make a tax-deductible contribution - support this effort by making a donation at energyrelief.org ... Include "Solar Gardens for Puerto Rico" in the comment field.
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Donations 

  • Apollo Grace
    • $100
    • 6 yrs
  • Viroqua Ecstatic Dance
    • $150 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $400 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
  • Joy Hughes
    • $86 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
  • Jessica Doyle
    • $350 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer

Joy Hughes
Organizer
San Juan, PR

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