New Shepherd’s Door Solar Sanctuary Project in Portland
Twende Solar, a not-for-profit organization that develops community solar projects in communities of need around the world, recently collaborated with the Portland Rescue Mission on the Shepherd’s Door Solar Sanctuary Project in Portland, OR. Shepherd’s Door is a sanctuary of peace and security for women and their children who are seeking a safe transition to healthy lifestyles. Twende Solar offered to design and install a large 100 kW PV system on the sanctuary campus through volunteer labor at no cost.
130 volunteers spent nearly 1,600 hours this summer installing the solar arrays. Many of them were involved in the Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association conference that helped with this project. Six generous manufacturers provided the equipment for free or at deeply discounted prices.
The 100 KW system will keep 2,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and will save Portland Rescue Mission $300,000 in energy costs over the next 25 years. These funds can
be applied to other critical program needs. And some of the residents at Shepherd’s Door were trained to become solar installers and now have excellent jobs in this important industry.
If you are interested in learning more about the project, are curious about the plans for our next project or would just like to support Twende Solar’s work, you can visit Twende Solar’s FUNdraiser on October 4 from 6-9 pm at Mt. Tabor Brewing in Portland. For more information, check out the Twende Solar website.