“Ethical Markets congratulates BARRIO SOLAR and our esteemed Advisory Board member Fritjof Capra, author of many paradigm-shifting books for initiating this project, which we and our colleagues of Puerto Rican heritage were happy to support. ~Hazel Henderson, Editor”
BARRIO SOLAR: Bringing Solar Power to Puerto Rico
NEWS UPDATE
December 14, 2017 – Barrio Solar has just made the first purchase of electricity kits. Fifty Gravity Lights and twenty-seven Goal Zero Sherpa 50 solar kits are now on their way to Puerto Rico and should arrive there before Christmas. A heartfelt “gracias” to all our donors and to our all-volunteer Barrio Solar team!
More than $15,000 has been raised to date, and we are currently at 61% of our goal.
November 5, 2017; Berkeley, CA – In response to the devastation of Hurricane Maria, a new organization, BARRIO SOLAR, has been created to fund, purchase and distribute small, off-the-grid solar technologies and lighting units to remote communities throughout Puerto Rico, as well as directly to the barrios of San Juan.
The initiative of Berkeley-based physicist and author Fritjof Capra, Puerto Rico native and Oakland resident, engineer Indira Cortez, and Berkeley producer and designer Elizabeth Hawk, BARRIO SOLAR launched a crowdfunding campaign on Generosity.com in early November to raise $25,000 for the purchase and distribution of solar units and gravity lights.
Fritjof Capra says, “We at BARRIO SOLAR are proud to be among the many to bring fossil fuel independence to the island of Puerto Rico via solar technologies, and we are excited to be part of these self-organizing solar support networks.”
In partnership with Puerto Rico-based women’s organization Paz para la Mujer, BARRIO SOLAR has developed a large network of distribution points on the island to
ensure quick delivery of the solar devices directly to emergency shelters, community centers and homes.
CENSA, the Center for the Studies of the Americas, located in Berkeley, is serving as the organization’s fiscal sponsor and will oversee the distribution of funds to purchase the products.
In addition to the crowdfunding campaign, BARRIO SOLAR is planning a benefit concert to raise awareness and additional funds to continue supporting rural communities throughout Puerto Rico and the barrios of San Juan, and to set up permanent offices for BARRIO SOLAR stateside and in Puerto Rico.
More details will be announced soon, including ticket information and a schedule of performers.
BARRIO SOLAR is an all-volunteer initiative comprised of educators, engineers, entrepreneurs, and entertainment industry veterans.
For more information about BARRIO SOLAR, please visit our website at barriosolar.org, follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or email us at [email protected].