Meet Our Spring 2022 Partners

In the past three years, the Honnold Foundation has supported 34 Partners in 20 different countries and territories, each of whom uses creative solar energy solutions to build equity, increase climate resilience, and support communities’ right to self-determination.

Now, we’re excited to share the Honnold Foundation’s Spring Partner cohort—  14 precedent-setting, community-led organizations from around the world. 

“Seeing an elder turn on the lights in their home for the first time is a powerful feeling.”

— Deb Tewa, Native Renewables Workforce & Education Manager

As you learn about our newest Partners, you may notice some familiar names. For the first time, the Honnold Foundation has made multi-year commitments to Partners who have expanded their initial projects and are working to scale regionally. This Fall, the Honnold Foundation will announce 12 additional Partners, raising our 2022 grant commitment to $2 million.

Billions of dollars are being poured into climate tech, but marginalized communities battling generations of inequity are often left out of the vast majority of these investments. At the Honnold Foundation, our goal is simple:

Power People, and the Planet

Nearly 90% of HF’s funding goes directly to our partners, and 100% of our funding comes from our donor community—people like you, who know that it takes all of us to make the world a brighter place.

An anonymous donor has stepped up with a generous matching gift: between today and Thursday, June 30th, 2022, all contributions up to $55,000 will be doubled! Every dollar you donate will go straight towards our work, and, if we meet our match, the full $110,000 will power two new grantees.

Join us: donate today and support a brighter world for years to come.

Investing in People and the Planet

By Charlotte Parker
Honnold Foundation Spring ‘22 Programs Intern

While conducting research on climate policy and impact investments, Honnold Foundation’s 2022 Spring Programs Intern, Charlotte Parker, quickly realized that while billions of dollars are being poured into research and “big bet” technological innovation, there’s a proportionately tiny amount of funding being invested in communities. In this guest blog, Charlotte summarizes a portion of her findings.

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In the Ecuadorian Amazon, a boat glides through the muddy waters of the Amazon River next to two small canoes. The boat leaves a wake as it travels at a steady clip of 14 mph; yet, save for the gentle hum of the rainforest, the river is nearly silent; there’s no roar of an engine, nor the pungent odor of diesel fuel. Instead, this boat is powered by a roof of solar panels feeding an electric motor. The photovoltaic technology in these panels has been around since the 1950s, but this application is new.

The boats, rapidly expanding into a network, are creating new transportation and trade opportunities across the Amazon. They’re also restoring something harder to find — agency, self-determination, and support that the Achuar, a community of about 6,000 people, need to sustain in order to protect the rainforest they’ve called home for thousands of years.

Kara Solar, a Honnold Foundation grantee Partner, uses the best of existing clean energy technologies to create opportunities that enable Amazonian communities to adapt and thrive. Their methods illustrate the common thread between the 34 organizations across 20 countries that we have supported since 2019: community-owned and community-centered climate solutions. 

While organizations like Kara Solar have deep and expansive impact, they often struggle to access the funding that they need to serve their communities. They aren’t alone. In spite of growing public awareness, nonprofits in the climate space are perpetually underfunded. According to a ClimateWorks 2021 report on foundation and individual philanthropic giving, less than 2% of all global philanthropic funding goes to climate-related causes. That 2% is still billions of dollars - between $6 and $10 billion in 2021, by ClimateWorks’ estimation. But it’s certainly nowhere near enough to tackle this enormous global problem, and that’s before taking into account where exactly those donations are going.

At the outset of the Honnold Foundation’s strategic planning process earlier this year, we took a close look at the climate change philanthropy landscape. We wanted to understand which focus areas are getting the funding that they need and where there are gaps that we could help to close. Soon, a clear call to action for funders of all budgets emerged: use your donations to advance the adoption of clean energy while helping communities improve the quality of their lives at the same time.

Current climate giving trends, analyzed by ClimateWorks and a follow-on report by Founders Pledge, show that the bulk of pledges focus on funding “big bet technologies.” These innovations address future climate change mitigation, often at national or global scales, and are less relevant for low-income communities that are trying to deal with the effects of climate change today. Clean electricity, mainly off-grid solar, has also emerged as a priority among philanthropic funders focused on climate change adaptation. Similar to big bet pledges, the majority of these dollars are not financing off-grid solutions for energy-poor communities, leaving the communities most vulnerable to climate change paying for fossil-fuel powered energy that causes health problems and eats up a significant portion of their monthly income. 

Meanwhile, private sector funding for climate solutions is booming. Climate tech startups raised $39.2 billion across 605 venture deals in 2021, with funding increasing about 20% each quarter of the year, according to Climate Tech VC. Let that sink in for a moment: That’s more than three times the amount of philanthropic capital invested in climate solutions each year. And an increasing amount of this funding is going towards the same types of innovation that philanthropy has been placing bets on: carbon capture, removal, and offsets. 

Photo Credit: Love for Life, Mike Kollöffel

If we’re serious about reversing climate change, someone needs to be making those bets. The private sector is well-positioned to make informed investments in innovation, especially if it drives down the cost of new technologies. But why not encourage philanthropy to do what it does best: reaching those communities that governments and the private sector have left behind? We need cleantech development, but we also need the organizations that can implement that cleantech in the right places, with community buy-in, so that these solutions actually work. Recent multibillion dollar pledges for forest conservation and indigenous sovereignty are promising, but still leave opportunities for targeted grants to enable communities to create clean, reliable energy access, increase climate resilience in the face of increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters, innovate transportation solutions like the solar boats developed by Kara Solar, and lead advocacy for pro-solar government policies and legal action against fossil fuel companies.

In 2022, the Honnold Foundation is committing $2 million in grant funding, doubling the previous year’s commitment. Three years into offering an annual open call for applications, the Honnold Foundation is enabling solutions like Kara Solar’s solar-powered boats to scale regionally. HF’s 2022 Core Partners will include an award for an indigenous-led team working with Kara Solar to adopt and expand on their vision for solar-powered river transit across the Amazon.

“What I think the Honnold Foundation does well is the human side [of climate-focused work]. So much climate funding is going towards technology projects [...] and while there’s space for developing the technologies of the future, that’s not helping the quality of human lives,” Founder Alex Honnold said in an interview last month.

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Juxtaposed against the climate funding landscape, the need to expand the Honnold Foundation’s work is more clear than ever. Whether you’re a well-established private foundation, a corporate sustainability lead, or an individual who invests in a cause that you care about personally, we invite you to join us in using philanthropy to power marginalized communities’ well-being and resilience. 

Our 2021 Solar Impact

In 2021, we supported 26 organizations across 17 countries, working with 44 communities. The common thread? Community-centered innovation catalyzed by solar energy.

A Letter from the Director of Programs

An Open Letter to the Honnold Foundation Community
by Kate Trujillo, Director of Programs

Two years ago, in January 2020, I was sitting in the Honnold Foundation office waiting for the launch of our Core Fund. For the first time, we were opening our grants to organizations around the world– any nonprofit, anywhere in the world, could apply for funding. Our plan was simple: we were looking for grassroots organizations that were using solar energy to fundamentally alter their community’s trajectory for the better. 

We were nervous. Do organizations even know who we are? Will people apply? Is there really a need for what we are doing? And, most importantly, will we reach the communities that need this support the most?

After a week, we had over 100 applications from 10 different countries. After two weeks, we had 300 and counting. By the end of the month, we received over 700 applications from over 40 countries, across every continent except Antarctica. 

We stopped being nervous and got to work.

We read every single application, knowing that, despite the overwhelming number of amazing projects, only a fraction could move forward due to our limited budget.

A few weeks later, Covid was officially declared a global pandemic, and as the world churned in turmoil, time felt like it was moving too slow and too fast all at once. But amidst the uncertainty, our Partners’ lights shined bright. Just as they had always done, each organization rose to meet the challenges facing their communities. Some took to the streets to deliver hygiene kits and basic necessities like food and clear water. Others sewed masks and built hospital beds for local clinics. Ultimately, in addition to responding to the crisis at hand, almost all of our partners were able to complete their solar projects as planned.

In 2021, we narrowed our Core Fund application’s focus to better reflect the communities we serve, and the types of projects we’re seeking to fund. Still open to communities around the world, we were hoping for 100 applications and received over 400. 

Over the past two years, we’ve supported 26 organizations across 17 countries and each one of our partners has used solar technology in a different way. The common thread? Community-owned and community-centered solutions. 

Kara Solar reimagined transportation and prevented thousands of acres of deforestation in the Amazon with a network of solar-powered canoes. Tusobola Women Initiative Network brought energy to rural health clinics in Uganda, installing solar at 7 clinics with lightning speed, dramatically improving healthcare for over 20,000 people. Coalfield Development unveiled West Virginia’s largest solar array on a nonprofit building, and provided solar industry job training to former coal miners and their families, demonstrating how renewable energy can revitalize communities struggling with extractive industrial practices. And in Indonesia, KOPPESDA installed 300 solar home systems whose solar panels and battery packs are made of up-cycled e-waste. 

Since our inaugural Core Fund launch, we’ve received over 2000 applications, and, truthfully, a huge number of these met our funding criteria. While we’ve grown dramatically, there’s still a $90 million funding gap for the solutions we could and should be funding. Communities around the world are developing their own unique solutions to address the impacts of climate change while ensuring they have access to clean energy. Now, they need our support, and your support, to make those solutions a reality.

That’s why we launched the Innovation Fund— a new fundraising campaign dedicated to helping our current and future Grantee Partners scale and expand their vital work. Over the next 12 months, we’ll raise at least $1 million in additional funding— money that will go directly towards moving the needle on energy access around the world.

Give whatever you can, however you can, so long as your gift challenges you. Meanwhile, we'll work to find values-aligned corporations and foundations that can match your gifts, dollar for dollar. It takes all of us to make this world a brighter place, and we’re excited to have you along for the ride.

Updates from Memphis Rox

Last fall, Alex Honnold and members of the Honnold Foundation team visited Memphis, TN to see the solar installation at Memphis Rox Climbing and Community Center in action.

Solar installations for community centers like this one have the power to act as beacons for their entire community. They help vital community hubs save money on their electricity bills so that they can focus on what matters— their work. They provide an important proof of concept for solar adoption regionally, showing their neighbors the versatility and sustainability of using the sun for energy. And, in a time when our climate is changing rapidly and aging energy infrastructure is failing our communities, solar energy has the power to keep the lights on.

Last week, in the wake of an ice storm, 140,000 Memphians were left without power over the weekend, and, as of February 7th, 70,000 still don’t have access to electricity. Between nightly temperatures dropping below 20 degrees, and daily temperatures rising high enough to ensure that groceries spoil, Memphians are struggling. . Meanwhile, Memphis Rox’s solar install could have and should have been able to help Rox respond to their community’s needs. But, thanks to antiquated policies enforced by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the size of the installation isn’t large enough to power the entire building off-grid. Currently, the installation offsets just a portion of Rox’s energy needs. . Memphians deserve what everyone deserves: Access to reliable refrigeration, shelter, internet, home healthcare, and the basic ability to keep their lights on.

In collaboration with Duct Tape Then Beer, we’re nearing the finish line of a project that will tell the story of energy justice in Memphis. Inevitably, the lights will come back, sooner than later. But the energy burden for residents remains, along with the dread of yet another multi-day outage.

We’ll share the full story of Memphis’s energy burden, and what you can do to help, later this Spring.

The Honnold Foundation Announces 2022 Open Call for Grant Applications

The Honnold Foundation is pleased to announce that applications for its 2022 grant cycle will open on January 10th, 2022.

The Honnold Foundation (HF) promotes solar energy for a more equitable world. Founded in 2012 by professional rock climber Alex Honnold, HF awards grants to organizations and initiatives worldwide that are using solar energy to improve human lives and reduce environmental impact. Since the HF’s creation in 2012, partners have been selected through an invitation-only process. Our 2022 Open Call fulfills our commitment to a transparent application process, increased accessibility for grassroots organizations, and presents an opportunity to greatly broaden impact. 

All funding requests will be submitted through the same multi-stage application process, and award recipients will be announced in May 2022. Grant awards typically range from $30,000 to $100,000.

Those interested in applying for a 2022 grant are invited to visit the Open Call FAQ page for more information, or visit our website to learn more about our current work.

Grantee Partner Contact:
Kate Trujillo, Director of Programs
grants@honnoldfoundation.org

Media Contact:
Peter Walle, Development and Communications Manager
press@honnoldfoundation.org

Honnold Foundation And Sunrun Launch Innovation Fund

Fund to scale solar energy projects that disrupt disparities in marginalized communities across the U.S. and the Global South

SAN FRANCISCO, December 1, 2021 — The Honnold Foundation, a solar energy access nonprofit founded in 2012 by prominent rock climber, Alex Honnold, and Sunrun (Nasdaq: RUN), the nation’s leading home solar, battery storage, and energy services provider, have announced a new fundraising campaign to catalyze innovation in solar energy access in underserved communities around the world.

Launched today, the Innovation Fund will identify and fund grassroots organizations using solar energy to address social and economic disparities in frontline communities around the world.

Grantee Partners will be scalable and precedent setting, and show how solar can be an elegant, multifaceted solution to address global energy inequity. From the Indian Himalayas to the Ecuadorian Amazon, Memphis to the Navajo Nation, Partners’ solutions may power education, access to clean water, river transportation in the Amazon, and more. 

With the goal of raising at least $1 million over the next 12 months, the Honnold Foundation will be responsible for administering the fund and selecting and supporting grantees. Sunrun is making a monetary contribution to the Innovation Fund of $50,000—as a match to other donations that will be received through fundraising efforts in December.

"Rooftop solar gives nonprofits the power to reduce their energy bills––while doing something good for the environment––so that they can continue focusing on the impactful work that they do,” said Alex Honnold, Founder of the Honnold Foundation. “We’re excited to be partnering again with Sunrun to expand our impact, help our existing grantee Partners scale, and help communities around the world switch to renewable energy."

In September 2020, Honnold Foundation and Sunrun launched the Community Fund, a program donating solar installations to potentially reduce carbon emissions and utility bills of BIPOC-led nonprofit organizations providing community services, including shelters, food banks and arts or education centers. The Community Fund has installed nearly 60 kilowatts of solar energy capacity on four projects in Memphis, Detroit, and Houston. An additional project in Petersburg, Virginia, is expected to be online by early-2022.

“We are so excited to partner again with the Honnold Foundation on such an important initiative to bring energy equity to everyone,” said Mary Powell, CEO of Sunrun. “Sunrun is committed to improving environmental equity and justice for all, and the Innovation Fund will help deliver the many benefits of clean, solar energy to hundreds of thousands of residents in historically disadvantaged communities.”

The Innovation Fund call for applications will open in January 2022, and will welcome applications from community-based organizations serving marginalized communities in the U.S. and around the world.

About The Honnold Foundation

The Honnold Foundation (HF) promotes solar energy for a more equitable world. Founded in 2012 by professional rock climber Alex Honnold, the Foundation believes that energy should be clean, affordable, and accessible for everyone. HF provides funding, project management, and a storytelling spotlight to nonprofit partners worldwide, who are using solar energy to create opportunity, increase social equity, and build more resilient communities. To learn more, visit www.honnoldfoundation.org.

About Sunrun 

Sunrun Inc. (Nasdaq: RUN) is the nation’s leading home solar, battery storage, and energy services company. Founded in 2007, Sunrun pioneered home solar service plans to make local clean energy more accessible to everyone for little to no upfront cost. Sunrun’s innovative home battery solution brings families affordable, resilient, and reliable energy. The company can also manage and share stored solar energy from the batteries to provide benefits to households, utilities, and the electric grid while reducing our reliance on polluting energy sources. For more information, please visit www.sunrun.com.

Media Contacts 

Peter Walle

Communications Manager

press@honnoldfoundation.org

Wyatt Semanek 

Public Relations Manager 

press@sunrun.com

Updates from Detroit

The Honnold Foundation’s Community Fund provides solar installs for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led nonprofits in the most polluted regions in the United States. Two of HF’s Community Fund Partners, Bridging Communities and Congress of Communities, recently completed their solar installations.

Today, we’ll celebrate a successful install, while asking an important question: How is a city in the midst of such a celebrated revival simultaneously experiencing such persistent inequity?

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Detroit, Michigan has a power problem. Historic summer storms have exposed Detroit’s aging infrastructure in dramatic fashion. In July and August, repeated floods and power outages left businesses, homeowners, and renters displaced, with millions of dollars in damages, and powerless for up to a week at a time.

Frustrated customers have been offered little to no assurance that there’s an imminent fix. Meanwhile, Detroit’s energy burden and environmental injustices persist. In 2020, many low-income residents spent over 10% of their monthly income on their energy bills, compared to the national average of 2.5%. Low-income Detroiters are also the most likely to suffer the consequences of local utility providers’ pollution. Detroit’s River Rouge coal plant closed its doors in May 2021— but families near the facility have felt the consequences of the nation’s 3rd most polluted zip code since 1958.

In the coming years, extreme weather events will only increase in scope and frequency, and Detroit’s energy infrastructure may not be able to keep up.

Detroit’s River Rouge Coal Plant
Photo by Lester Graham, Michigan Radio

We had the chance to visit our Community Partners at Bridging Communities and Congress of Communities a few weeks prior to their solar installation via the Honnold Foundation’s Community Fund. Ironically, Bridging Communities was in the midst of a power outage.

Both grassroots nonprofits offer vital services to their communities— youth leadership training, elder care, housing support, public 24-hour access to a community fridge, community organizing, and more. But neither organization can provide those services without access to electricity.

That’s where we come in. 

Thanks to funding from the Honnold Foundation’s Community Fund, Bridging Communities and Congress of Communities were equipped with a combined 40kW of panels— an investment that will save nonprofits an estimated $160,000 in the next 20 years. And, equally important, the next time power outages sweep Detroit, neither organization will miss a beat.

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Congress of Communities’ future headquarters.

Bridging Communities’ Team

Private investment in the city’s core has left national outlets wondering if Detroit is in the midst of a major comeback. But a closer look reveals that the city’s revival has masked growing inequities, mostly along racial lines.

The dramatic influx in wealth has only benefited a few— many of whom are nonnative Detroiters. According to a 2021 report from Detroit Future City, only 12 of Detroit’s 297 neighborhoods are considered middle class. “Black Detroiters’ median income — $33,970 — has only increased by 8 percent in the last 10 years, while white Detroiters’ income has increased by 60 percent”.

Maria Salina, Executive Director of Congress of Communities, looks to local youth leadership for inspiration and solutions to these growing inequities. In fact, reimagining a historic Detroit home as a sustainable, eco-friendly office was an idea that emerged from Congress of Communities’ Youth Leadership Council. From solar panels to study nooks, open floor layouts to modular furniture— their youth team thought of it all. Congress of Communities’ youth leaders graduate to attend top tier schools: Yale, Harvard, Princeton, to name a few. After graduating, youth leaders, and their ideas, return to Detroit primed for significant leadership roles throughout the city.

Meanwhile, Phyllis Edwards, Executive Director of Bridging Communities, knows how youth leaders can fundamentally challenge status quos for the better. But she also knows that, in Detroit, it’s easy for emerging leaders to give up and give in to the nagging suspicion that regardless of personal action, inequity will persist. To these youth leaders, she shares hope:

Phyills Edwards and team celebrate a successful solar installation.

“I was talking to some young African American men the other day, and they said, “nothing’s changing.”

I asked: Do you remember the first time you ate a hamburger?

“Well, no - we grab hamburgers all the time,” they said.

“I remember the first time I bought a hamburger at a restaurant — the first movie I saw a movie in a theater. I remember because they were the direct result of the advocacy of the generation before me, and significant moments for my generation.

The truth is, a lot has changed. My generation got us into restaurants. Now, your generation is taking the next step — exposing the injustices that make sure that our former struggles were not in vain— using social media to expose what people of color have known and fought about all along. Each generation will leave its footprint. it’s up to each of us to decide how we impact that footprint.”

Detroit has a Power Problem— and it will take diverse, visionary leaders to fix it. Solar installations for these nonprofits may not fix everything, but we agree with Congress of Communities’ Youth Leadership Team: it’s the right place to start.

Our partners work in diverse ways, but they’re united by a common vision— a better, brighter future for all of us. Make a gift today and join us in working towards a brighter world.

Special thanks to Garrett MacLean for installation photography.

Interested in learning more about Detroit? Here are a few resources to get started:

• Bridge Detroit: Community Driven Reporting by and for Detroiters

• The Dawn of Detroit, by Tiya Miles

• Detroit, A Biography, by Scott Martell

• The State of Economic Inequity in Detroit: Detroit Future City

Introducing the Honnold Foundation Sticker Series

For years, people have asked us how they can show off their support for the Honnold Foundation. Sure, you can always use Alex’s Signature Spatula to cook a delicious meal for friends, but, as much as we think Alex’s Spatula is a key multi-use tool for any kitchen, it isn’t the best accessory for your car, laptop, or water bottle.

Now, you can celebrate our partners and support the Honnold Foundation by purchasing our limited edition sticker pack, featuring designs by four incredible artists from communities we work in.

When you buy the Honnold Foundation’s sticker pack, 100% of your purchase powers solar energy projects around the world.

A special thanks to our friends at Meridian Line for shipping and fulfilling these orders.

Meet Our 2021 Core Partners

The Honnold Foundation is growing, and so is the call for solar energy funding from grassroots organizations around the world. This year, we received over 400 applications for solar energy funding from our Core Fund, with applicants from every continent except Antarctica. As our team reviewed the applications, a clear theme emerged: climate change continues to widen the equity gap around the world, and communities need support now, more than ever.

Today, we’re introducing our 2021 Core Partners. In the coming year, these 10 organizations will use solar energy to reduce their communities’ impact on the environment, increase their resiliency and capacity to weather climate change, and strengthen their communities’ right to self-determination.

With the addition of this incredible slate of Partners, the Honnold Foundation is committed to giving away over one million dollars in funding to solar energy projects around the world by the end of the year.

In the face of a problem as big as climate change, one million dollars in funding for our partners isn’t going to solve everything. But it’s a start. And at the Honnold Foundation, we’re firm believers in the fact that small steps can add up to big change.

Nearly 90% of HF’s funding goes directly to our partners, and 100% of our funding comes from our donor community—people like you, who know that it takes all of us to make the world a brighter place. We’re in this for the long haul, and with your support, we can continue reaching communities on the frontlines of climate change. Join us: set up a recurring donation today to support a brighter world for years to come. 

Solar for Soulsville

For Immediate Release— Solar for Soulsville: Memphis Rox, the Honnold Foundation, and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy are advancing solar energy adoption to ease the energy burden in Tennessee

May 25, 2021

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis Rox (MR) and One Family Memphis (OFM), a nonprofit climbing facility and community center, the Honnold Foundation (HF), a solar energy access nonprofit founded in 2012 by prominent rock climber, Alex Honnold, and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), a nonprofit organization promoting clean, equitable energy choices in the Southeast, have partnered to bring solar energy to the heart of Soulsville, South Memphis. Over the coming months, the three nonprofits will join forces to tell the story of energy inequity in Memphis, Tennessee, demonstrate opportunities for Memphians to ease their energy burdens, and advocate for policy reforms to help bring these opportunities to fruition.

Inspired by One Family Memphis and Memphis Rox’s commitment to investing in people, not profits, the Honnold Foundation will fund a 20 kW solar photovoltaic installation that reduces the community and climbing center’s annual energy consumption and costs by 21%. With a portion of Memphis Rox’s energy costs reduced, more funds will be available to fulfill their mission rather than to pay expensive monthly power bills.

“Supporting Memphis Rox is a no-brainer,” said Kate Trujillo, Director of Programs at the Honnold Foundation. “They've become an essential fixture for their community, and are fighting for a brighter Memphis daily. This project will save them money while sending a message that affordable energy is possible for all Memphians.”

The installation is just a small example of how solar energy could ease energy burdens and create a cleaner community for all Memphians. Historically, South Memphis has been subject to severe environmental inequity. Residents of the Memphis metro area pay some of the highest utility bills in the nation. If coupled with meaningful policy change, this solar installation will catalyze environmental justice reform, first in Memphis, and then inspiring similar reforms throughout Tennessee.

“We are tremendously grateful for the support of the Honnold Foundation as we work together to bring solar energy to our community,” said Sarah Grai, Director of One Family Memphis. “We understand that expensive utility bills are an obstacle for many families. This solar install is about elevating the local conversation on environmental inequity, leading the way in alleviating the financial barriers many Memphians face, and advocating for the environment. By supporting Memphis Rox and the Soulsville community, the Honnold Foundation is proving yet again that we climb higher when we climb together.”

“Memphis Rox and Honnold Foundation are demonstrating the power of solar in building communities that model equitable, economic, and environmentally sound solutions,” said Dr. Stephen A. Smith, SACE Executive Director. “Unfortunately, the scale of this project was limited by regressive solar policies enacted by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). These policies fail to provide fair compensation for customer-owned solar power on the TVA system.” Currently, Memphis, Light, Gas and Water’s (MLGW) hands are tied by their contract with TVA, which prevents them from providing more renewable opportunities for local employment, clean energy, and energy savings for city residents. The Honnold Foundation is prepared and committed to funding a larger install for One Family Memphis if and when TVA enables it.

Memphis Rox’s rooftop solar installation is currently scheduled for completion in August 2021. In the months leading up to installation, the three nonprofits will work together to highlight energy inequities Memphians face daily, and educate local and national audiences about the policy reforms needed to catalyze lasting change that will help Memphians create a more prosperous and healthy future. 

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ABOUT MEMPHIS ROX

Memphis Rox and One Family Memphis brings rehabilitation, healing and a renewed sense of hope to challenged communities by providing a climbing facility and programs to foster relationships across cultural, racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. We exclude no one — regardless of ability to pay. To learn more, visit www.memphisrox.org.

ABOUT THE HONNOLD FOUNDATION
The Honnold Foundation (HF) promotes solar energy for a more equitable world. Founded in 2012 by professional rock climber Alex Honnold, we believe that energy should be clean, affordable, and accessible for everyone. HF provides funding, project management, and a storytelling spotlight to nonprofit partners worldwide, who are using solar energy to create opportunity, increase social equity, and build more resilient communities. To learn more, visit www.honnoldfoundation.org.

ABOUT SACE
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) is a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible and equitable energy choices to ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. As a leading voice for energy policy, SACE is a regional organization focused on transforming the way we produce and consume energy in the Southeast. Learn more at www.cleanenergy.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Peter Walle, Communications and Operations Coordinator at the Honnold Foundation
press@honnoldfoundation.org; 978-480-0745

Sarah Grai, Director of One Family Memphis
sarah@onefamilymem.org

Amy Rawe, Communications Manager at Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
amyr@cleanenergy.org; 865-235-1448

Gratitude and Growth in a Moment of Change

A Message from the Founder and Board Chair

To the Honnold Foundation community:

We’re writing to inform you that, after an impressive tenure, Dory Trimble will be stepping down from her role as Executive Director in the summer of 2021. We are grateful for Dory giving the Honnold Foundation team ample time to launch a thorough search for our new Executive; it’s yet another demonstration of her commitment to HF’s impact and vision for a brighter world.

Dory has been with the Honnold Foundation for four years, three of them as the Executive Director, and in that time has transformed the organization immeasurably. Under her leadership, we’ve grown from little more than a fledging passion project to a stable non-profit distributing more than $1 million in grants in 2020.  Dory lived and breathed HF’s mission of promoting solar energy to create a more equitable world. She put the needs of our grant partners first. She pushed all of us to center social justice and the needs of communities in all of our work. 

After the initial impact of Dory’s news and the emotions that followed, we’ve emerged from our grieving process resolute and hopeful for the future. We have a strong and talented staff team who are dedicated to carrying on HF’s work and seeing us through this transition. We have the unique opportunity to find a new Executive who can help HF thrive in new and interesting ways. 

Due to Dory’s determined and successful fundraising and the dedication of our Board of Directors, the Honnold Foundation is in a strong financial position—in fact, its strongest financial position ever—and the leadership transition process is already underway. Our transition committee, composed of both board and staff representatives, has begun working directly with the talented team at Schaffer&Combs, who will be leading the search for HF’s next visionary leader.

In the coming months, we’ll take time to reflect on the growth HF experienced under Dory’s leadership and how we might want to evolve in the years ahead. Some of that is going to depend on the next Executive’s background and vision. But, no doubt, we will remain true to our original purpose: to advance solar energy to improve real people’s lives in underserved and under-resourced communities worldwide.  

We also know that our work is just getting started, and we’re determined as ever to accelerate our growth and impact, building on the incredible foundation Dory has created.

With optimism,

Alex Honnold & Peter Martin

A Message from the Executive Director

Hi all,

I’m writing today to share some big news: in the summer of 2021, I’ll be transitioning out of my role as Executive Director of the Honnold Foundation. It’s been an adventure and a privilege to lead HF to its current success, and I can’t wait to see where we go next.

I’m grateful to the Honnold Foundation staff, whose curiosity, competence, and daily dedication to the greater good have made leading this team such a pleasure. I’m grateful to our founder Alex, for his unwavering commitment to making the Honnold Foundation the best organization it can possibly be, and for his trust in my leadership. And I’m grateful to you, our broader community, for believing in HF’s vision for energy access and social equity, and for your steady commitment to powering our global impact.

But most of all, I’m grateful to our partners — the organizations and community leaders whose values, priorities, and lived experiences are at the core of HF’s work. Without our partners’ deep knowledge of their own communities, and their commitment to building a brighter world, none of this would be possible. To the grassroots visionaries who have shown me what it means to truly do good, for the people who need it most: thank you.

Along with this gratitude, I am wildly optimistic for the global impact that the Honnold Foundation will have in the years to come, with a new Executive Director at the helm. In the meantime, I will manage this leadership transition with the same energy I've always brought to HF: with a deep dedication to our partners, empowerment for our team, and accountability to our community.

Thank you for your time, your support, and your commitment to building a brighter, more equitable world for all of us. It has been an honor.


Onward,

Dory Trimble

Energy Justice in Mexico

At the Honnold Foundation, we know that solar energy can make the world a brighter, more equitable place. But combating years of social and economic disenfranchisement isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. 

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Last December, our partners at Borderlands Restoration Network completed their Honnold Foundation Core Fund project—a solar installation connecting 30 Comcaac households in Desemboque, Mexico, to solar water pumps, household electrical systems, and irrigation systems for community gardens. The panels will provide energy, food, and water security for 250 people. And after completing their extensive technician training program, eight Comcaac Women are managing the grid to ensure that it remains fully operational through its entire lifespan.

Despite Borderlands’ incredible success in 2020, it was a challenging year for people everywhere, and the Comcaac community are no exception. Over the course of the year, economic stress and complex, poorly defined billing systems led to $17,000 in accumulated debt to the local utility authority—debt that must be paid before the utility will allow Borderlands to turn on their fully installer solar microgrid.

The Honnold Foundation’s community stepped up to support the people of Desemboque and turn on the lights. In just under a week, we raised the funds needed to relieve the Comcaac’s debt and power on Desemboque’s new grid. Friends, long-time supporters, and first-time donors—thank you for stepping forward to meet this goal, together. 

But these bills didn’t accumulate overnight. To understand why the lights couldn’t be powered on in Desemboque, we have to go backwards in time. For thousands of years, the Comcaac people, also known as the Seri, have thrived in the extreme desert conditions of the Sonoran Desert. Traditionally a community of hunters, fishers, and gatherers, the Comcaac speak their own language and practice their traditions, while also adapting to modern life. Today, the Seri community of about 1,000 people live in two small fishing towns: Desemboque and Punta Chueca.

When electricity first came to Desemboque, the community quickly grew accustomed to modern amenities: refrigeration, lights, and air conditioning were all welcome luxuries, especially with summer temperatures well into the 100s. But for many people, this was the first experience with debt-based payment, and the process wasn’t well explained. Further, in order to pay their utility bills, community members had to drive three hours through roads barricaded by cartels to make their payments in person. In a town where most people lack access to a car and the majority live on just $100 a month, it was doubly impossible. The bills accumulated, and fast.

Community leaders pose with the first of many plants grown in the shade of Desemboque’s solar installation.

8 Seri women installed and maintained Desemboque microgrid following studies at Barefoot University in India.

Thanks to the generosity of people from around the world, this debt has been paid off. For the first time ever, the Comcaac community will have consistent, affordable access to clean energy and reliable water. And it wouldn’t be possible without your support.

Systemic inequalities led to this debt, in the same way that unjust systems continue to impact communities around the world. We stand in solidarity with the Comcaac—grateful and inspired by the outpouring of support from around the world. But to continue combatting energy injustice around the world, we’ll need your help.

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When you make a monthly gift to the Honnold Foundation, you commit to taking action, today and every day— to making this world a brighter place.

Our 2020 Solar Impact

Almost $1 million in funding awarded, 32 communities reached, 17 partners supported across 13 countries and territories, and two new grant programs launched: it's been a big year for the Honnold Foundation and our solar energy partners worldwide.

News from our Core Partners

Over the past six months, our Core Partners have shown courage, resilience, and ingenuity in unprecedented times. Through it all, they’re still focused on what’s important: people and the planet. Here are a few updates from their solar energy projects around the world. 

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MAIA

At the MAIA Impact School, young indigenous women, known as Girl Pioneers, train to be the next generation of doctors, lawyers, and solar energy leaders. The Impact School serves 40 remote villages around Sololá, Guatemala. 

We’re excited to share that MAIA has completed installation on their rooftop solar array, which will soon power the entire school! Panels are installed on an easily accessible rooftop terrace; once COVID restrictions are lifted, MAIA will teach Girl Pioneers, their parents, and the MAIA staff how solar power works, why sustainable energy is important, and how to install solar power in their own homes. By the end of 2021, MAIA expects to offer solar tours to students, families, and community members.

Borderlands Restoration Network

The Comcaac, also known as the Seri Indians, are an indigenous people living in coastal desert mountains near the Gulf of California in Northern Mexico. For years, Borderlands Restoration Network has worked with the Comcaac to create intergenerational apprenticeship programs that unite the Seri community’s traditional ecological knowledge with modern science.

The Honnold Foundation partnered with Borderlands Restoration Network to install a solar water pump system for the town of Desemboque. We’re excited to share that all solar installations for this project are complete! 30 solar panels and a freshly installed network of water pumps and interconnected pipes now ensure water security for 250 people. Soon, these pipes will be connected to an auto-regulated irrigation system, creating a reliable, sustainable local garden owned and operated by the community.

Coalfield Development

As the coal industry contracts and requires fewer skilled workers, communities throughout Appalachia are struggling. In response, Coalfield Development and the Honnold Foundation are bringing a large-scale solar array to Coalfield’s Community Hub and creating a solar energy job training program for former coal miners.

“Our team has been through the proverbial roller coaster of COVID-19 and are still standing together, determined to bring this solar project to fruition,” says Jacob Hannah, Conservation Coordinator at Coalfield Development. In the coming weeks, a subcontractor will reinforce the Community Hub’s roof, making way for a solar installation team to finish Coalfield’s solar array. Once safe, Coalfield will launch their solar job training workshops and community education programs early next year.

The Lake Clinic Cambodia

Over one million people live in floating villages on Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake. The Lake Clinic Cambodia (TLC) provides medical care and health education at no cost to eight of these floating villages. TLC’s solar-powered boats, also known as floating clinics, bring essential medical services directly to communities. Families earn an average of 2.50 a day, but travel to a clinic in the city can cost as much as $50 in diesel fuel. Without TLC’s support, most residents would have lack access to any healthcare.

Previously, old, underpowered solar systems weren’t providing consistent or reliable power to important medical devices, limiting the number of people TLC could serve and causing frustrating power outages for their clinicians. With HF’s support, TLC has doubled the solar capacity of four of their floating clinics. 

From July to September, TLC’s teams treated 5,544 people. Their services included prenatal care for 109 women, 495 vaccinations, 86 mental health contacts, birth-spacing education for 1,332 people, and 34 referrals to hospitals for life-saving procedures.

Associação Dos Trabalhadores Agroextrativistas Da Ilha Das Cinzas (ATAIC)

On Ilha das Cinzas, a small Brazilian island town in the middle of the Amazon River estuary, Associação Dos Trabalhadores Agroextrativistas Da Ilha Das Cinzas (ATAIC) uses solar energy to strengthen the local economy. With the Honnold Foundation’s support, ATAIC is repairing previously installed solar systems, and installing 40 more. 15 of those new systems will power families’ homes, and the remaining 25 will be used for automated agriculture systems.

ATAIC delayed their solar installation until early 2021 to keep their community safe. In the meantime, their team is distributing food and water throughout town. They’re also providing additional project management training for their staff; as soon as the community’s COVID risk lowers, the team will be ready to complete the installation.

GRID Alternatives Tribal Program

Recognizing a long history of energy exploitation and extraction, GRID Alternatives’ Tribal Program increases tribal communities' energy sovereignty by building locally sited, community-owned solar systems.

Over the past year, GRID’s team installed 97.6 kW of solar power through 20 projects, serving 19 tribal households, as well as an installation on the administration building for the Torreon Chapter of the Navajo Nation. Many of the tribal communities GRID partners with have experienced significant health and economic impacts from the COVID pandemic. Several projects were postponed until 2021, but GRID has adapted; with the Honnold Foundation’s support, GRID revised their job training program to launch a remote, paid training program for tribal members. 

KOPPESDA Foundation

The KOPPESDA Foundation and their partner, Sumba Sustainable Solutions, work with the Honnold Foundation to bring solar energy and upcycled battery storage systems to 320 homes, health care providers, and schools on Sumba Island—the southernmost island in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

COVID-19’s impact on the global supply chain has delayed the battery storage systems’ delivery. However, the delays also gave KOPPESDA’s team a chance to fine-tune where these systems could be best used in the community. Throughout the pandemic, Sumbanese teachers have struggled to facilitate remote learning for their students. Most teachers and schools lack reliable electricity, and many teachers work by candlelight to prepare for each day’s classes. When KOPPESDA’s first batch of solar energy and storage units arrives in December 2020, schools and health clinics will be the first places powered by the sun.

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Our partners work in diverse ways, but they’re united by a common vision— a better, brighter future for all of us. Make a gift today to join us in working towards a brighter world.

Adjuntas: A Solar Community

Since 2019, the Honnold Foundation team has been working alongside Casa Pueblo to co-create Puerto Rico’s first cooperatively managed, community powered solar microgrid.

Earlier this year, we introduced the Community Solar Energy Association of Adjuntas (ACESA), a nonprofit led by the local business association that manages microgrid operations. Thanks to our friends at REC Group and Rivian, ACESA will own, maintain, and manage the 1,000 solar panels powering 18 small businesses in the center of the town of Adjuntas.

While 2020 has presented challenges for all of our partners worldwide, Casa Pueblo’s Associate Director Arturo Massol Deyá says, “We’re extremely happy here in Adjuntas […] through solidarity and community engagement, we’re in the middle of a significant transformation.”

Read HF Project Manager Cynthia Arellano’s latest trip report to learn more about the Adjuntas solar microgrid.

For a Brighter Future: The Power of Grassroots and Solar Energy

The Honnold Foundation and Global Greengrants Fund are working together to improve human lives and protect access to clean air, water, and soil. We know that many of the best solutions to environmental injustice and inequity come from the people whose lives are most impacted.  But geographic distance, lack of internet, and language barriers can all make it difficult to find and partner with the smallest grassroots organizations. Global Greengrants works with a network of on-the-ground experts to reach grassroots leaders in the most remote parts of the world.

With the help of their network, the Honnold Foundation can identify, connect with, and support grassroots leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. From there, we can step back and let the community take charge.

For example, just outside of Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, a small community of 1000 residents sought funding for a solar-powered water pump. The Project would shift their community from reliance on standpipes and water tanks in only a few houses towards a clean and reliable water source. Community leaders had drilled a borehole for a well, but were unable to fund the purchase and installation costs for the water pump.

Normally, projects this remote could remain unfinished. However, Global Greengrants’ network stepped in, made a connection, and soon, the project was funded and quickly completed. With the installation of the solar-powered water pump, the community has secured access to a sustainable, easily maintained clean water source for years to come. 

The Honnold Foundation promotes the use of solar energy for a more equitable world.

Global Greengrants Fund provides resources to communities to protect our shared planet and help grassroots activists take on the world’s most pressing environmental and social justice challenges.

Photo: Elizabeth Weber, Solomon Islands, courtesy of Global Greengrants Fund

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Press Release: Casa Pueblo and ACESA are transforming Adjuntas into the first “Pueblo Solar”

ADJUNTAS, PUERTO RICO, October 19 2020 — Casa Pueblo, the Honnold Foundation, and the Community Solar Energy Association of Adjuntas (ACESA) are celebrating the installation of approximately 1,000 solar panels to power 18 businesses in 13 buildings around the town’s central plaza. This massive community project, known as Adjuntas Pueblo Solar, will have an installed capacity of 220 kW and will be operational by Christmas. In the second phase of the Pueblo Solar project, a 1 MW storage system utilizing second-life electric vehicle batteries will be designed, installed, and donated by Rivian, an electric vehicle manufacturer. Adjuntas will be the first location worldwide where this unique battery storage solution will be installed, and the repurposed batteries’ energy storage will allow for up to 10 days of complete off-grid functionality for all of the business served by the Adjuntas Pueblo Solar microgrid. The batteries are expected to arrive in Spring of 2021.

The Adjuntas Pueblo Solar microgrid will significantly reduce the energy costs for the community, and will provide consistent, reliable power in a place where the electricity grid often suffers from interruptions in service.

The president of ACESA, Gustavo Irizarry, affirms that “electricity bills often account for up to 30% of business costs [in our community]. As a business, it’s impossible to grow and difficult to even survive, and near impossible to compete with the huge foreign stores we see on the island. Now, we’ll have our own solution, one that can be a model for the entire Puerto Rican small business community. The business may be small, but together, we’re a giant.”

“We’re committed to supporting the Adjuntas Pueblo Solar initiative; it’s now been two years since we launched our collaboration with Casa Pueblo and Adjuntas,” said Dory Trimble, Executive Director of the Honnold Foundation, from their headquarters in Utah. “After the project launched, we were honored to participate in 2019’s Marcha del Sol. Today, the design is complete, and we’re delighted to have partnered with Rivian for the microgrid’s energy storage, and REC Group for a generous donation of 500 solar panels.”

This unique economic activation model will provide significant, sustained relief for small businesses’ energy expenses. While business owners will pay ACESA for the energy they consume, rates will be much lower than those of their current energy provider, PREPA. Initial funds will be reserved for the microgrid’s operation, maintenance, and repair. All remaining profits will be reinvested back into the community. Expanding on Casa Pueblo’s energy insurrection, ACESA plans to finance rooftop PV installations for low-income community members. 

“These days, politicians make promises that they don’t keep. But in Adjuntas, the community is united in an energy insurrection, focused on social and economic development. Puerto Rico needs an economic breakthrough, and building energy independence is the way to go. We’re not postulating, we’re not asking for a vote or delegating our future to others-- instead, we’re dedicated to creating a change, with a deep social commitment and sense of planetary responsibility,” explains Arturo Massol-Deyá, the Associate Director of Casa Pueblo. “To those who sit in the seats of government, we demand respect for local, community-based development.”

After a long and complex project development process, Cynthia Arellano, the microgrid’s Project Manager from the Honnold Foundation, says “it’s been a true honor to be a part of this project and to work alongside Casa Pueblo and ACESA. This project was born as a vision from the community, and to see it come to fruition is revolutionary. I couldn’t be more excited.”

The installation of solar panels is being completed by Maximo Solar, a Puerto Rican company that plans to recruit people from the community to staff the project. 

ABOUT CASA PUEBLO

Casa Pueblo is a community organization that is committed to appreciating and protecting natural, cultural and human resources. Over the past forty years, Casa Pueblo has grown into a hub for resilience, education, and environmental advocacy in the mountain town of Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. Housed in a building completely run by solar power since 1999, Casa Pueblo is an outspoken advocate for solar energy's ability to reduce environmental impact and improve human lives. To learn more, visit www.casapueblo.org.

ABOUT THE HONNOLD FOUNDATION

The Honnold Foundation (HF) promotes solar energy for a more equitable world. Founded in 2012 by professional rock climber Alex Honnold, we believe that energy should be clean, affordable, and accessible for everyone. HF provides funding, project management, and a storytelling spotlight to nonprofit partners worldwide, who are using solar energy to create opportunity, increase social equity, and build more resilient communities. To learn more, visit www.honnoldfoundation.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Dory Trimble, Executive Director

Honnold Foundation

press@honnoldfoundation.org

978-480-0745

Arturo Massol-Deyá, Associate Director

Casa Pueblo

arturomassol@gmail.com

How Can Solar Help Your Nonprofit?

A few weeks ago, the Honnold Foundation launched the Community Fund, a grant program supporting rooftop solar for BIPOC-led organizations in the most polluted regions of the United States.

But what can solar do for your organization? For your community? Is it really going to save you money? If you’re interested in a solar installation for your organization, read on!

The Community Fund is the Honnold Foundation’s newest way to bring solar energy to grassroots organizations across the United States, but this isn’t the first time HF has been directly involved with local nonprofits’ solar projects. We partner with a few US-based nonprofits each year with a simple, impactful goal: put solar panels on roofs. 

In January 2020, Hopelink of Southern Nevada was $10,000 short on funding a solar energy project that would save them 35% of their monthly electricity bill of $800. When HF heard about their mission to eradicate homelessness in the greater Las Vegas region, we stepped in to fill the funding gap.

Don Miller, Hopelink’s Senior Program Manager, says that the installation has surpassed their expectations by a long shot. “As a small nonprofit, every dollar counts,” explained Don. “It’s $800 a month to run electricity for the place—and that’s money that could and should be going directly to our clients, the community.” Hopelink’s savings have surpassed expectations. Since their installation was powered on, they’ve saved 46% of their typical monthly bill—roughly $400 a month! Ultimately, Hopelink is poised to save over $100,000 across the panel’s expected 25+ year lifespan.

Solar energy helps small community organizations’ budgets, and it’s better for the environment, too. At the Honnold Foundation we also know that applying for a grant, especially one involving construction, is a formidable task. Planning, logistics, and compatibility could all be major concerns for grassroots organizations whose employees wear multiple hats. That’s why when you receive a Honnold Foundation Community Grant, you also receive our commitment to support your organization throughout the installation process. The Community Fund exists because we want to help nonprofits dedicate more of their budget and time to their essential mission work. If you’re selected for a grant, the Honnold Foundation and our partners at Amicus Solar Cooperative will ensure the entire process, from design to installation, runs smoothly.

Could your BIPOC-led nonprofit benefit from solar energy access?

Solar Energy for Sumba Island

The KOPPESDA Foundation, a Honnold Foundation Spring 2020 Core Partner, improves farmers’ livelihoods on Sumba Island, Indonesia. KOPPESDA, Sumba Sustainable Solutions, and the Honnold Foundation have partnered to bring solar energy and upcycled battery storage systems to homes, health care providers, and schools. 

We caught up with Dr. Sarah Hobgen, co-founder of Sumba Sustainable Solutions, to learn about why it’s so hard to hand out “free stuff” and how KOPPESDA changed course to build a scalable solar-powered economy.

In the province of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, over 600,000 households rely exclusively on kerosene, candles, and diesel for power and light. Twenty-three percent live below the poverty line— just US$17 a month per household. The KOPPESDA Foundation works with rural communities on Sumba Island, the southernmost island in East Nusa Tenggara, where poverty rates are even higher. 

 

For over 20 years, KOPPESDA has helped rural communities on Sumba Island improve livelihoods and reduce environmental impact. Over that time, KOPPESDA and other local organizations have tried to increase solar energy access, without much success. Modest government and private grants have funded small, “free” solar installations, but the community was slow to embrace new technology. In rural, tight-knit communities governed by personal relationships and handshake agreements instead of paper contracts, it’s difficult to “give away” solar panels while also supporting long term adoption and the community’s sustainable growth.  

Sarah Hobgen has spent the last 10 years living and working in rural Indonesia as a researcher and capacity-building expert, and when she got involved with KOPPESDA’s work, she realized that “free” doesn’t necessarily mean practical or scalable. 

Imagine being a farmer with little to no technical training who has been offered a “free” solar energy system. The only catch? You have to pay for the panels’ installation, sign a complex contract, you may owe a utility company extra monthly fees, and you’ll also need to manage the upkeep yourself with no training. The panels are older models, are unreliable, and have no battery storage capacity, so at night you do what you’ve always done: light a candle or power up your costly diesel generator. Sooner than later, you’ll stop paying the utility company. Not too long after, that solar system ends up in a landfill. During her time in Indonesia, Sarah has seen this history repeat itself more than once. 

“In the past, there was no trust, little accountability, and no stable, continuous economic improvement. The panels would just go to waste as soon as there was a technical failure,” says Sarah. “In order to really improve electricity and access to services, people need to feel like they’re invested in the service.”

In 2019, KOPPESDA launched a partnership with local solar company Sumba Sustainable Solutions to reimagine what Sumba Island’s future as a solar-powered, scalable economy. After brainstorming with the leadership teams, the majority of whom are from Sumba Island, they settled on an affordable social-enterprise model.

Gone are the days of zero accountability. Panels and batteries are newly manufactured, have an expected lifespan of over 20 years, and are all sold with a warranty. These panels are designed to stay on homes, medical centers, and small businesses, and out of the local landfill. 

With the help of the Honnold Foundation, over 1,500 people now have access to electricity, and moving forward, an estimated 100 people per year will be added to KOPPESDA’s growing list of clients. In a region where most of the community grew up relying on candlelight, the impact has been huge.

“Life is busy… in rural villages,” Sarah says. “Collecting firewood, collecting water from the river, cooking on an open fire, boiling all of the drinking water, manually processing crops and farming for food, just as their ancestors have done for hundreds of years— all of it takes time. By supplying them with quality solar lighting and mobile device charging we are adding four hours to their evening when they can weave cloth or palm mats or just take some time to keep in touch with family on the phone.”  

KOPPESDA is making stable, long term investments in the Sumbanese peoples’ future. Make a gift today to power a sustainable clean-energy economy for Indonesia and other Honnold Foundation Partners around the world.