This grant from Salesforce is the largest donation RE-volv has received to date and will allow RE-volv to rapidly scale its impact, deploying solar energy projects for community-serving nonprofits nationwide
San Francisco, December 12, 2023 – RE-volv, today announced an $850,000 grant from Salesforce that will support its efforts to finance over thirty new nonprofit solar projects, lead community-focused solar education events, and train a new generation of diverse clean energy leaders over the next two years.
“RE-volv has been working for over a decade to create accessible pathways for nonprofits that serve vulnerable communities in America to be able to benefit from solar energy and use those benefits to amplify their mission,” said Andreas Karelas, RE-volv’s founder and Executive Director. “Now with the support of Salesforce, more community serving nonprofits that provide critical services to their constituents, will be able to realize their vision of going solar even faster.”
RE-volv’s long-term zero down solar financing products for nonprofits allow community-serving nonprofits to switch to solar power with no up-front costs. Participating organizations have achieved immediate electricity savings of at least 15% and often higher.
To date, RE-volv has developed and financed solar projects for over 70 nonprofits in 17 states, collectively saving them over $20 Million on their electricity bills, allowing them to better serve their 50,000 beneficiaries. The 4MW+ of solar RE-volv installed to date will avoid over 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the 25 year lifetime of the systems.
“RE-volv is a true force multiplier for an equitable clean energy transition,” said Naomi Morenzoni, Salesforce SVP of Climate and Innovation Philanthropy. “Not only are they accelerating decarbonization but they are decreasing the cost of energy access for nonprofits so they can put their money where it matters most – serving their communities."
With the passage of the historic US climate bill, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), just over a year ago, the timing of this game-changing donation is even more impactful. Provisions in the IRA allow nonprofits for the first time to directly benefit from the solar Investment Tax Credits(ITC), a long-time driver for commercial and residential solar. In addition the IRA will make billions of dollars of low-cost capital available to finance clean energy projects, particularly in underinvested in communities, through the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
This historic grant from Salesforce will supercharge RE-volv’s operational capacity and its ability to meet the moment of this once-in-a-generation historic investment from the federal government in community-based clean energy.
In particular, RE-volv has now been able to launch its long awaited solar loan product that allows community-based nonprofits in every state to become resiliency hubs, owning their own solar systems and battery storage, and making building upgrades including to their roof or electrical panels.
Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and other leading institutions have recently found that “non-residential [solar] installations are associated with accelerated residential adoption rates,” meaning that the impact of these nonprofit solar projects goes far beyond the roof of one nonprofit, but will in fact inspire additional community members to adopt solar in the months and years to come.
Salesforce’s support of RE-volv is inline with other major philanthropic initiatives. In 2022 and 2023, RE-volv has received grant funding, investments, and support from the U.S. Department of Energy, The Wells Fargo Foundation, the Schmidt Family Foundation and the Kresge Foundation.
Community-serving nonprofits interested in going solar should contact RE-volv to explore solar financing options available to them, made possible with support from Salesforce.
About RE-volv
RE-volv is a climate justice nonprofit that helps nonprofits in historically excluded communities across the country go solar, while raising awareness about equitable climate solutions, and training the next generation of clean energy leaders. To date, RE-volv has developed and financed solar projects for over 70 nonprofits in 17 states, collectively saving them $20+ Million on their electricity bills, allowing them to better serve their 50,000 beneficiaries. The 4MW+ of solar RE-volv installed to date will avoid 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the life of the systems.
RE-volv is an inaugural member of the White House National Community Solar Partnership and is a member of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Innovation Network. Learn more at re-volv.org.
About Salesforce
Salesforce empowers companies of every size and industry to connect with their customers through the power of data + AI + CRM + trust. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com.
For immediate release
Media Contacts:
RE-volv: Andreas Karelas, [email protected], 415-890-5126
Salesforce: Gia DeBartolo, [email protected], 224-535-1749
