The people whose land we occupied so many years ago have not been given their fair share of our prosperity. Right now, there are more than 10,000 Native American households in Arizona that have no access to electricity. Shamefully, that’s 7% of all Native American households without electricity in America.

Arizona is making an effort to bring electricty to it’s Native American residents through a new program called the Tribal Rural Electrification Program (in PDF). Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano announced the new initiative Wednesday, saying the first phase will bring solar power to at least 100 reservation homes by the end of the year.

The Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office will run the program, with the help of Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus’ Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory. Arizona utilities and solar power companies will also partner in the initiative.

What are other states doing?

The people whose land we occupied so many years ago have not been given their fair share of our prosperity. Right now, there are more than 10,000 Native American households in Arizona that have no access to electricity. Shamefully, that’s 7% of all Native American households without electricity in America.  Do the math.

Arizona is making an effort to bring electricty to it’s Native American residents through a new program called the Tribal Rural Electrification Program. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano announced the new initiative Wednesday, saying the first phase will bring solar power to at least 100 reservation homes by the end of the year.
It’s not a lot, but it’s certainly a beginning.

The Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office will run the program, with the help of Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus’ Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory. Arizona utilities and solar power companies will also partner in the initiative.

What are other states doing?

Source:  The Arizona Business Journal

Gary GerberLast week I spoke with Ryan Chao, director of Satellite Housing in Berkeley, CA about a new project that featured solar energy. Today, my guest is Gary Gerber, President and Founder of Sun Light and Power, the company that installed the solar array for Satellite Housing.

Gary founded his company in 1976, and he tells the story of what happened to solar power, and how it’s coming to the forefront once again. Gary serves on the board of directors of several non-profit organizations including a non profit solar industry trade association, the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA). He is also a mamber of ADPSR (Architects, Designers, Planners for Social Responsibility).

Today’s guest is Ryan Chao, Executive Director of Satellite Housing, a San Francisco Bay Area not-for-profit corporation, providing affordable housing for low-income seniors, families and individuals with special needs. He is responsible for property management, resident services, financial management and affordable housing development activities for the organization.

Ryan has held past positions with the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, the Fund for the City of New York and Atlantic Bank of New York. He holds a B.A. in Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis and a MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Ryan is a member of the board of directors of the non-profit Housing Association of Northern California, and the Community Advisory Committee of Center for Elders Independence and Aging Services of California’s Chief Executives of Multi-Asset organizations.

Satellite Housing is making the move to green building with their new project, the 80-unit University Avenue Senior Housing facility. With a rooftop full of solar panels, the property becomes the second such Satellite Housing facility to go solar. In our interview, he talks about organizations move to green housing.