One Block Off The Grid (1BOG) Expands Green Jobs Program for Newest Bay Area Campaign

BAY AREA, Calif., March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- One Block Off The Grid (1BOG), the nation's largest solar group purchase company, today announced a new green jobs partnership to coincide with the launch of the latest 1BOG Bay Area solar group discount campaign. Now, homeowners in San Francisco's North Bay, East Bay and South Bay can join the 1BOG community for free advice about solar installations and receive solar at the group discount rate of $5.24 per watt. 1BOG selected solar installer groSolar to service the community and will work with local nonprofits Napa Valley Solar Partnership and Solar Richmond to support the training of local green collar workers for this campaign.

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In a special private-public sector partnership, 1BOG and the federal stimulus-funded Napa Valley Solar Partnership are collaborating for the first time to develop vocational skills and create jobs for underprivileged Napa County residents. Low-income youth enrolled with the Napa Valley Solar Partnership receive 10 weeks of solar training and hands-on grassroots marketing and outreach experience for a range of skills that can be applied to sales, marketing and administration job applications.

"These partnerships are a prime example of how we can do good for our community and still get our members the best deal on solar," said Dave Llorens, CEO 1BOG. "The more talent we have in our area the closer solar gets to mass adoption."

"We are excited to continue working with 1BOG to advance our shared mission to build the green economy and a clean-energy future," said groSolar CEO Jeff Wolfe. "This expanding public-private partnership is building momentum as we take solar power mainstream while building undeniable social, environmental and economic value."

"The Napa Valley Solar Partnership relies on collaboration with private enterprises with a social mission. We are thrilled to participate in the 1BOG campaign, so that the low-income youth in our program can receive premium on the job training and gain expertise in this important, fast-growing industry," said Jim Tomlinson, director of the Napa Valley Solar Partnership. "This is an excellent way to help raise public awareness about solar power and provide job opportunities for young talent in our community."

Bay Area homeowners in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma counties can sign up for the current 1BOG campaign through June 25, 2010. For more information, details about pricing and products or to sign up, visit the 1BOG Bay Area Solar homepage at http://SFBay.1bog.org.

1BOG and groSolar will be hosting a free webinar and online information session with details about the Bay Area solar campaign on April 8, 2010 at 7 p.m. PT. To sign up, visit: http://SFBay.1bog.org/webinar.

About One Block Off the Grid, Inc. (1BOG):

One Block Off the Grid (1BOG) is the nation's largest solar consumer advocate, dedicated to making home installations easy and affordable. For every regional campaign, 1BOG conducts a rigorous and impartial selection process to identify an ideal installer partner, based on their pricing, track record of quality installations, reliable warranties, premium products and a viable business model. 1BOG organizes interested homeowners into a large solar buying group to negotiate lowest solar group discount rates from the installer partner so that community members can enjoy the best deal for solar power without having to become solar experts themselves. 1BOG was founded in 2008 in San Francisco, California and has campaigns running in ten cities throughout the U.S. For more information, visit http://SFBay.1BOG.org.

About groSolar:

groSolar is North America's premier distributor, installer and integrator of solar energy solutions for residential and commercial installations. Founded in 1998, groSolar is the largest 100 percent U.S.-owned installation and distribution company in the solar industry. The company has offices and warehouses across the US, distributing solar electric and solar hot water systems from offices in VT, NJ, NY, CT, MA, MD, DE, PA, and CA. groSolar integrates components from leading solar manufacturers including Canadian Solar, Motech, Heliodyne, SMA, Fronius, and UniRac into simple solar energy solutions for customers that generate clean, reliable energy for decades. groSolar is a mission-driven company dedicated to providing high quality solar energy solutions and whole energy appreciation. groSolar's venture capital investors include NGP Energy Technology Partners, SJF Ventures, and Calvert Social Investment Fund. Learn more at groSolar.com  or call 800.374.4494.

About the Napa Valley Solar Partnership:

Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Napa Valley Solar Partnership is a project of the non-profit organization Community Action of Napa Valley. It aims to accelerate Napa County's move toward renewable energy as an impartial community resource.  The organization works to increase the number of Napa County residential solar installations, support the creation of local green jobs, educate the community about the affordability of solar, and assist low-income households in obtaining solar.  For more information, visit www.NapaValleySolarPartnership.org.

SOURCE One Block Off the Grid