The Giving Grid

The Giving Grid

The Giving Grid is a unique and innovative community solar program that provides “pennies from the sun” to benefit rural school districts and their communities for years to come. Financially, environmentally and educationally, The Giving Grid is a win-win-win.

With leadership from Partners for Rural Washington and Zero Emissions Northwest, The Giving Grid installs solar power systems on or near school buildings with no upfront costs to the school district, thanks to funding through state utility tax credits managed by the Washington State University Extension Energy Program. The district reaps the energy savings. For the first 10 years after installation, the district must reinvest those savings into programs for low-income students.

Since the average lifespan of a solar power system is 30-plus years, use of any savings after the first 10 years becomes discretionary. Teacher salaries? New programs? Aging infrastructure? It’s up to each school district and its board.

The Giving Grid is the brainchild of David Funk, president of the private corporation Zero Emissions Northwest. Funk has worked in energy and finance for close to 20 years and knows the value of free sunshine.

“I’ve seen what solar can do and how it can save communities a lot of money,” he said. “Our existing work with the USDA on energy efficiency in rural communities provided us with a strong and familiar presence in those areas. That foundation allowed us to connect with the WSU Extension Energy team and shape a community solar program alongside PRWA.”

Jody Opheim, PRWA’s executive director, said The Giving Grid aligns perfectly with its mission to drive prosperity in Washington’s small rural communities.

“Rural schools are an anchor for the communities they serve,” she said. “They educate, feed and care for each town’s youth. It’s where the community gathers for school—and even non-school—events. It’s often the go-to facility during a disaster or other emergency.

“These schools have to make tough decisions weekly about how to spend what little discretionary funding is available,” she continued. “The Giving Grid puts, on average, $10,000 to $15,000 per building every year into each school’s budget. I know of no other source of funding available to rural schools that can do that.”

Learn About The Giving Grid
Here are just a few fun ways to learn more about the power of the sun and celebrate using it to benefit your community:
  • Build simple solar ovens using pizza boxes, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and black construction paper. Concentrate the sunlight to bake s’mores or other yummy treats.
  • Use sun-sensitive (cyanotype) paper to create photographic prints by placing objects like leaves, flowers, or cutouts on the paper and exposing them to sunlight. This merges science and art, showing the power of UV rays to change chemical compounds and produce blue-and-white silhouettes.
  • Build small cars powered by solar panels and then hold a derby to see whose car is the fastest in direct sunlight.
  • Become “Energy Detectives” to audit the school for energy waste or identify where natural light can replace electrical lighting.