The project, initiated and sponsored by Alternative Energy Systems (AES), involved the successful installation of a solar system, energy efficient lighting, solar modules, inverters, racking and monitoring equipment. All told, the Boys and Girls Club looks to save about $5,500 in energy costs annually with the upgrades.

The Solar Pledge Program began in March 2010, when AES announced that it would donate $500 out of each solar contract it secured throughout the following year. Construction officially began on the project on April 22, 2011, which was Earth Day.

The project was also augmented by a $25,000 charitable donation earlier this year by Pacific Gas & Electric, a company that specializes in clean energy, which was the largest single sum donation for any solar project north of Sacramento. This donation in particular was notable due to the fact that PG&E receives thousands of applications for funding each year, and only a handful of projects are chosen.

In addition, the Boys and Girls Club is also on track to receive a $17,500 solar rebate from PG&E through the California Solar Initiative. AES assisted with applying for all of the project’s grants.

As a result of the program, the Boys and Girls Club will have more funds to use in other areas of its core programming. It will also be able to purchase more curriculum materials and important supplies, hire more staff, and provide food and transportation for its broad range of activities. Environmentally, the increased efficiency of the facility will offset the carbon output of planting about nine trees or eliminating over 1.6 million miles of driving.

The program’s completion was celebrated with a ribbon cutting on May 18th at the Boys and Girls Club, located at 601 Wall Street in Chico.

AES offers professionally engineered solar energy systems for residential, commercial and agricultural applications, with a goal of reducing the constant rising costs of energy for today’s energy conscious consumer.

As the Company Leaders, Lance and Tim both are actively involved in all aspects of this Business from the Sale to Interconnection. The core belief that this is the technology that will lead us to energy independence and sustainability is a driving factor in operational decisions they collectively make. They are the Quality assurance required for every job. Personal Accountability is taken very seriously with an understanding that all jobs lead to the next.