Solar power is the world’s cleanest and most abundant energy source, so expanding access to it can vastly reduce energy inequality while combating the ongoing climate crisis. Jinko Solar — a world-leading solar supplier and the producer of one out of every 10 solar panels on Earth — has set its sights on being the most trusted supplier of solar and storage equipment in North America and has taken on a variety of community initiatives to reinforce this commitment.
Jinko Solar’s Community Involvement and Partnerships
Everybody Solar
Everybody Solar is an organization that works to strengthen local communities by providing clean solar energy for nonprofits serving the most vulnerable populations. Everybody Solar covers 100% of the solar panel installation costs, allowing nonprofits to save on energy and put more resources toward their vital missions. As a charitable organization, Everybody Solar relies on fundraising and sponsors like Jinko Solar to complete its work.
Jinko Solar is a long-standing contributor to Everybody Solar and has donated more than 250 kilowatts of solar panels to the organization since 2016. These donations cover the energy needs of crucial nonprofit organizations including the Wildlife Associates in Half Moon Bay, California; Committee on the Shelterless in Petaluma, California; the Sciencenter in Ithaca, New York; and the Eugene Science Center in Eugene, Oregon.
“We are thrilled to partner with Jinko Solar, whose generous donation will help us provide free solar energy systems to several great charities in the U.S.,” said Youness Scally, executive director and co-founder of Everybody Solar. “Jinko Solar has been one of Everybody Solar’s greatest supporters since our founding and we are proud to partner with them as our primary PV module provider.”
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
In an effort to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and take a hard stance against oil from a state ranked last in terms of solar energy usage, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe unveiled its Cannon Ball Community Solar Farm in 2019, a $470,000, 300 kilowatt solar module installation that accounts for over half of the solar energy generated in the entire state.
These solar modules were donated entirely by Jinko Solar and power the Sioux Nation Community Center and Veterans Memorial Building, saving the tribe anywhere from $7,000 to $10,000 per year in energy costs.
Cody Two Bears, the Sioux Tribe’s driving force behind the solar initiative, described the farm. “It’s pretty amazing for high-poverty communities like Cannon Ball and Standing Rock. This is a big deal,” he said. “This is over 50% of all the solar infrastructure [in the state] … Something like this is very special. But this is only the beginning.”
Grid Alternatives
Grid Alternatives is America’s largest nonprofit solar installer that serves as a leading voice for low-income solar policy. Grid works closely with communities that face a heavy burden from energy inequality and climate change to provide social, economic, and environmental justice through renewable energy transitions and job training.
Through its Energy for All program, Grid provides low-income communities with a list of services such as project development and technical assistance, single-family, multifamily, and community no-cost or cost-saving solar installations, and various workforce development and service learning opportunities.
Since completing its first solar installation in 2004, Grid Alternatives has installed 89,378 kilowatts of solar panels resulting in $697,103,388 in lifetime savings. Jinko Solar has maintained a philanthropic partnership with Grid Alternatives for over a decade and has donated over 1.4 megawatts (1,400 kilowatts) of solar panels to support its efforts.
“We always felt it important that the benefits of solar be widely available to all communities across the US and around the globe,” said Nigel Cockroft, Jinko Solar’s U.S. general manager, in a press release, “We believe in the Grid Alternatives model and are proud to continue to support their expansive beneficial programs.”
St. John’s Housing Project
The St. John’s Housing Project is a nonprofit construction organization with the mission of providing safe, decent, and affordable housing in northern Florida. In collaboration with Everybody Solar, Jinko Solar recently provided St. Johns with 21.87 kilowatts of solar panels at both the main office and a six-unit apartment complex known as Patriots Place that provides subsidized housing for unhoused veterans.
This installation promotes the use of affordable renewable energy in the area and is expected to provide the organization and Patriots Place tenants with yearly savings of $2,500 and $1,962 respectively.
“Being able to put solar on the roof was amazing,” Bill Lazer, the executive director of St. John’s Housing Project, said on YouTube at the Patriots Place ribbon cutting. “We’ll save about $1,500 to $2,000 a year right now, but this is guaranteeing that it will remain affordable for a long time. I think the vets when they move in will be thrilled. It will be unique for them not to have to worry about a power bill.”
Sulzbacher Village
Sulzbacher is northeastern Florida’s largest service provider for people experiencing homelessness. Sluzbacher is known for its comprehensive approach to mitigating homelessness by addressing housing, income, and health care. Sulzbacher Village is a housing complex in Jacksonville that opened its doors in 2018 and provides 70 subsidized, permanent housing units for about 340 unhoused individuals.
In 2022, Jinko Solar donated 50 kilowatts of solar panels to the Sulzbacher Village to provide the complex with clean and affordable energy. “The solar panels will allow us to use more of our funding for the desperately needed services we provide, such as meals and health care,” said Cindy Funkhouser, president and CEO of Sulzbacher. “This saves money and allows us to lessen our carbon footprint.”
The Power of Solar Power
With the average monthly electricity bill increasing by 13% from 2021 to 2022, energy costs have become a significant financial burden for many communities, especially those of lower income. With the sun producing 44 quadrillion watts of power, transitioning to solar power can lower a home’s electricity bill by as much as $1,500 per year.
As a globally leading supplier of the world’s cheapest and cleanest form of energy, Jinko Solar has displayed a continuous commitment to expanding access to solar power to the communities that need it most. While the price of fossil fuels continues to rise, Jinko Solar’s initiatives will continue to transform communities with the everlasting benefits of energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint.
