SC history 2023

When, and by whom, was GRID Alternatives founded?

• 1980, Tim Sears and Erica Mackie

• 2001, Tim Sears and Erica Mackie

• 2001, Sunny the Solar Panel

• 1980, Sunny the Solar Panel

Answer explanation

GRID was founded during the 2001 California energy crisis by Erica Mackie and Tim Sears, two engineering professionals who were implementing large-scale renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for the private sector. GRID completed its first single-family installation for the Cubas family of San Francisco in 2004..

When did GRID get it’s first AmeriCorps volunteers?

• 2023

• 2015

• 2006

• 2000

Answer explanation

• - GRID Alternatives had a handful of AmeriCorps VISTA members starting in 2006. The primary purpose of  VISTA is capacity building, where volunteers help build for a one-year term, and then leave. VISTAs are trained to think about long term sustainability, and their role is explicitly designed to support organizational expansion. 

• - Most new offices started with a regional director and a VISTA member so their contibution to the foundation of GRID is significant

• - Funding only lasted 7 years so they started thinking of alternatives programs to step away from AmeriCorps VISTA.

What company (not AmeriCorps) sponsored a paid internship with GRID Alternatives? 

• PG&E

• Insomnia Cookies

• AT&T

• AmeriCorps

Answer explanation

• - In 2012, GRID used Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) funds to directly hire four qualified trainees, one at each of our PG&E-territory offices (Bay Area, Central Valley/Fresno, Central Coast, and North Valley) and provide each of them with intensive hands-on experience and training with real-world solar installations.

• - At the end of the internship, GRID Alternatives helped the interns secure jobs through both our own internal placement resources in the for-profit solar world, as well as PG&E's placement resources.

• - In this first year, some fellows were full time for 3 months and others were 12 months. It wasn’t a full cohort. 

In 2015, Which AmeriCorps program did GRID apply for? 

• AmeriCorps VISTA

• AmeriCorps Seniors

• AmeriCorps National

Answer explanation

• - GRID applied for a National Americorps grant in January 2015, asking for 35 - 42 fellows.

• - Americorps National, unlike Americorps VISTA, is direct service focused, so volunteers can’t do any fundraising.

• - Accordingly, Americorps National positions would be based in construction, outreach support and volunteer management.

Which funders support SolarCorps felows now? 

• City of Denver

•  California Volunteers (AmeriCorps State)

• Bank of America

• Transformative Climate Community

Answer explanation

• - All the answers are correct!!

• - SolarCorps as a program has a variety of funders who usually sponser individual positions.

• - Let's take a look