Wednesday we had the honor of attending the opening of a new living center for homeless veterans in San Bernardino.
In actuality, we did a little more than attend. We proudly donated a 4.8 kW solar system to The McMillen House. Beyond helping the vets to breathe a little easier, the solar system is expected to save the program about $1,200 per month on electricity costs, and nearly $50,000 over the lifetime of the system.
What do veterans and solar have in common? A few things… Some argue that the reason many veterans end up wounded or at war in the first place is due to our dependence on foreign oil. But that’s another topic for another place. Much less debatable, is the powerful role that solar is now playing in the U.S. Military. The Department of Defense has committed to meet 25% of its energy needs with renewable energy by 2025, making the military’s energy supply more secure, distributed, affordable and independent.
And finally, the transformational promise solar is offering to the lives of today’s vets. Returning veterans often have a hard time finding civilian jobs. The exploding solar industry is playing an important role in changing this. More than 13,000 U.S. veterans are employed in the solar industry, accounting for over 9% of all solar workers in the nation.
And at today’s event, we have found yet another way to support U.S. veterans. We sponsored The Empower America Collision to install the solar system. Empower America is a non-profit group of veterans that recruit, train and prepare America’s servicemen and women for well-paid careers in the solar industry. We immediately were able to see the integrity and character that this team has as soon as we met them. It feels great to work with them.
In addition to getting to meet the people we were working with, we also had the pleasure to view the grand opening. The opening ceremony was moving with its accessorized waving flags, well-starched uniforms and other emotionally evocative symbols of patriotism. Tom Kanavos, who founded The Turrill Transitional Center, has been working on establishing the McMillen House since 2007. The program will offer structured housing, drug and alcohol treatment services in conjunction with employment development and counseling to veterans.
“I was on the street, sleeping under a bridge in Fontana. I turned my life around,” Kanavos said of his life before founding the non-profit. “Most homeless people will do the same thing if given a chance.” We agree. If anyone deserves to be given a second chance, it is hard to argue that the service men and women of our country do. Everyone deserves to live a cleaner more sustainable existence. To the service men and women of America, we salute you! Maybe green is the new red, white and blue.
