GRID Alternatives Marks 20 Years by Upgrading Its First Solar Installation

GRID Alternatives is marking 20 years of impact by returning to the San Carlos, California, home where the organization installed its first solar system and upgrading the original installation.

Bob and Lorrayne Murphy became GRID Alternatives’ first clients two decades ago, opening their home to the organization as it began working to expand access to solar energy for underserved communities. The system upgrade marks a full-circle milestone for the organization and the Murphy family.

“This home is where our mission began,” said Tim Sears, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of GRID Alternatives. He said returning to the property 20 years later highlights the organization’s long-term focus on investing in communities.

The Murphy family said the original solar installation had a lasting impact on their household and expressed appreciation for GRID Alternatives’ continued involvement in upgrading the system.

Over the past two decades, GRID Alternatives has expanded its work beyond its first project to connect communities with clean energy, economic opportunities, and workforce development. In the Bay Area alone, the organization has served more than 14,000 families, generated over $328 million in lifetime energy savings, and helped prevent more than 1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Across its broader domestic and international operations, GRID Alternatives has provided clean energy solutions to more than 38,000 households and generated over $887 million in lifetime energy savings for historically underserved communities.

BMO, a long-standing GRID Alternatives partner, joined the milestone event and is supporting the upgrade through funding for projects that expand access to clean energy and workforce development opportunities.

“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. She highlighted the partnership’s focus on clean energy access, community resilience, and workforce development.

Erica Mackie, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of GRID Alternatives, said the Murphy home demonstrates that the organization’s work extends beyond solar installations to creating longer-term opportunities for communities to participate in the clean energy transition.