Commercial Solar

Trolley Trestle

A new rooftop solar system is redirecting utility savings straight back into services for former foster and homeless youth.

Chula Vista, CA

Southern California

Six people cutting a blue ribbon at a SOMAH solar housing project ribbon-cutting ceremony

  • 80

    Panels

  • 10 units + common areas

    Units/Homes Served

  • 25.6 kW

    System Size

  • $600,000

    Lifetime Savings

Trolley Trestle is a transitional housing program for former foster and homeless youth. GRID Alternatives’ Multifamily & Commercial Solar team partnered with Trolley Trestle to bring new rooftop solar to the property, using incentives from the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) program along with philanthropic support from the BQuest Foundation.

The nearly 26 kW system serves Trolley Trestle’s 10 living units and shared common areas. It offset 70% of the cost of going solar for the organization, and it now redirects more than $60,000 in electricity costs back into Trolley Trestle’s programs and services each year. Over the life of the system, that adds up to a projected $600,000 or more in savings.

For a youth services nonprofit, that kind of savings is transformational: it’s capital that can go straight toward supporting more young people. Workforce trainees took part in completing the installation, connecting GRID’s job training mission to the project alongside the direct benefit to Trolley Trestle’s residents.

  • Over ten years, we're looking at an excess of $600,000 in savings. For a community services nonprofit, that amount really makes an impact… The advice I would give other organizations would be first and foremost, to do the math. I think once you pencil out the investment and the return on that investment, adding solar really becomes a no-brainer.

    Mauricio Torre

    SBCS Vice President of Program Operations

What we brought to Trolley Trestle

  • System Design & Engineering

    GRID's Multifamily & Commercial Solar team designed and installed the rooftop solar system serving Trolley Trestle's 10 living units and common areas.

  • Incentive Administration

    GRID secured SOMAH program incentives and philanthropic support from the BQuest Foundation to fund the project.

  • Workforce Development

    One workforce trainee took part in completing the installation.