Planned Parenthood Ventura Health Center Now Powered by Solar
Planned Parenthood California Central Coast (PPCCC) celebrated the launch of its second solar-battery electric system for their network of health centers, as part of a regional plan to increase resiliency and transition to 100-percent renewable energy sources. The system is expected to save the facility over $100,000 over the next 30 years and incorporates new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The project at PPCCC’s Ventura location is part of Community Environmental Council’s (CEC) Solarize Nonprofit program and was made possible by support from Asteri Solar and Direct Relief.
CEC’s Solarize Nonprofit program is designed to help local nonprofits go solar without an upfront cost. The projects in the program are funded by Asteri Solar, which launched in 2018 to support the community through impact investing in solar for nonprofit organizations. The solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Planned Parenthood was installed by Action Energy. Action Energy also installed the two new electric vehicle charging stations that are now available for health center staff.
Planned Parenthood Ventura also received funding from Direct Relief, a humanitarian medical relief organization, to install backup battery storage provided by Swell Energy. The backup battery storage will enable the facility to continue their operations for an extended period of time during power outages.
PPCCC’s San Luis Obispo health center was their first location to complete a Solarize Nonprofit project. Eight other nonprofits have installed solar through the program, including the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Central Coast–Santa Maria Campus, Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, the Sea Center in Santa Barbara, the Wildling Museum in Solvang, Clinicas del Camino Real in Fillmore, and the White Buffalo Land Trust.
PPCCC President & CEO Jenna Tosh said, “Going solar has been a goal of ours for years. We are so grateful for the support of our partners, and look forward to the day when we can announce that our entire network of health centers is energy resilient and powered by renewable energy.”
“We are excited to make PPCCC’s Ventura location more resilient with the support of our Solarize Nonprofit partners,” said CEC’s Director of Climate Mitigation, Cameron Gray. “This project highlights how we can work together to improve community health and resilience, even as we experience more local impacts from climate change.”
California State Assemblymember Steve Bennett shared, “We are beyond thrilled to have been a part of this celebration of combining two things that I am deeply passionate about: implementation of renewable energy and women’s reproductive freedoms. This facility will continue providing care to everyone who needs it, while also lowering its energy impact and carbon footprint. Thank you to those that made this upgrade possible.”
Nonprofits in the Central Coast region that are interested in participating in the Solarize Nonprofit program may apply at SolarizeNonprofit.org. Eligible nonprofits must own their buildings or have long-term leases and have facilities suitable for solar.