San Francisco, Calif. - December 16, 2009 - One Block Off The Grid (1BOG), the nation's largest solar group purchasing company, today announced the extension of the current Bay Area 1BOG campaign to coincide with a pilot green jobs partnership. Together with groSolar and local nonprofit Solar Richmond, through January 31, 1BOG is offering members who purchase solar a unique opportunity to sponsor a green-collar worker. The current Bay Area 1BOG solar campaign has been extended through January 2010 to support this pilot program with a special reduced rate of $5.53 per watt from installer partner groSolar.

Bay Area 1BOG members will now have a unique opportunity to support a graduate of Solar Richmond's green-collar jobs training program. The opt in program will provide green-collar graduates with two days of hands-on training, assisting groSolar’s expert crew with 1BOG solar installations. To participate, members pay a small, tax-deductible donation of $112, which both 1BOG and groSolar match.

1BOG, a subsidiary of Virgance, is rooted in social responsibility. Through 1BOG's proven model of harnessing community action to accelerate adoption of renewable energy, this green-collar pilot program aims to rapidly improve local employment rates, boost the region's economy and further solidify the Bay Area's environmental leadership position.

"Supporting green-collar job programs is a natural way for 1BOG to integrate philanthropy and community activism into our business model," said Dave Llorens, Co-Founder and General Manager at 1BOG. "By extending the Bay Area campaign and significantly reducing the group discount prices, 1BOG and groSolar can add value through solar for Bay Area homeowners as well as the broader community. We’re excited to see the impact we can create through applying 1BOG's proven model for improving residential solar adoption to empower disadvantaged communities.”

“groSolar’s mission is all about building the green economy and a clean-energy future,” said groSolar CEO Jeff Wolfe. “This partnership is a fantastic example of how the solar industry and community-based non-profits can work together to make the green economy a reality, while also developing the local workforce.”
 
"We are giving solar customers the opportunity to create environmental and social value," said Michele McGeoy, Founder and Executive Director of Solar Richmond. "By partnering with 1BOG and groSolar, we are excited to be a part of 1BOG's community model in order to raise awareness of the importance of green-collar jobs as a way to increase economic opportunity."

San Francisco residents can sign up for the current 1BOG campaign, now extended to run through January 31, 2010. With groSolar as the installer, customers can take advantage of the partnership with Solar Richmond and promote green economic development. Customers can currently purchase solar for $5.53/watt. For more information or to sign up, visit 1BOG’s San Francisco solar campaign page.

 

About One Block Off the Grid

Founded in 2008 in San Francisco, California, One Block Off the Grid (1BOG) is a collective bargaining and consumer advocate, dedicated to making home solar installations easy and affordable. For every regional campaign, 1BOG conducts a rigorous and impartial selection process to identify an ideal installer partner, selected based on their pricing, track record of quality installations, reliable warranties, premium products and a viable business model. 1BOG organizes interested homeowners into a large solar buying group to negotiate lowest solar group discount rates from the installer partner so that community members can enjoy the best deal for solar power without having to become solar experts themselves. 1BOG has campaigns running in eight cities throughout the US. For more information, visit www.sfbay.1BOG.org.

 

About groSolar

groSolar is North America’s premier distributor, installer and integrator of solar energy solutions for residential and commercial installations. Founded in 1998, groSolar is the largest 100 percent US-owned installation and distribution company in the solar industry. The company has offices and warehouses across the US, distributing solar electric and solar hot water systems from offices in VT, NJ, NY, CT, MA, MD, DE, PA and CA. groSolar integrates components from leading solar manufacturers including Canadian Solar, Motech, Heliodyne, SMA, Fronius and UniRac into simple solar energy solutions for customers that generate clean, reliable energy for decades. groSolar is a mission-driven company dedicated to providing high quality solar energy solutions and whole energy appreciation. groSolar’s venture capital investors include NGP Energy Technology Partners, SJF Ventures and Calvert Social Investment Fund. Learn more at groSolar.com or call 800-374-4494.

About Solar Richmond

Founded in 2006 in Richmond, CA, Solar Richmond is a 501c3 social enterprise that brings green-collar job opportunities and clean energy to the Bay Area. The organizationushers low-income local residents into the green economy by providingthem with hands-on solar installation trainingand job placement services. The solar training is a component of a 14-week program in partnership with RichmondBuild, which includes seven weeks of pre-apprenticeship construction and three weeks of energy efficiency training. Solar Richmond also consults with Bay Area consumers who want to go solar in a socially responsible or sustainable way. To date, Solar Richmond has trained 180 underemployed local residents. Of the approximately 90 graduates who decided to enter the solar field, 22 were placed in full-time jobs and 22 individuals were placed in temporary solar jobs. In February, the organization is expanding its services to youth and young adults in Oakland and Berkeley. Solar Richmond has been recognized as a pioneering green jobs model by Senator Barbara Boxer, environmental justice advocate Van Jones and media sources including the New York Times, NPR, Solar Today and countless others. To support their work, visit www.SolarRichmond.org or call 510-621-1719.

 

Press Contact:

1BOG

Rebecca Geller

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415-963-4339 ext. 10

 

Solar Richmond

Kandea Mosely

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510-621-1722

 

groSolar

Gaelan Brown

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800-374-4494 ext. 6528