News

U.S. Bank Tribal Solar Energy Scholarship with American Indian College Fund provides additional training and support​.

MINNEAPOLIS (October 26, 2021) – U.S. Bank today announced the extension of its partnership with GRID Alternatives for the fourth year with a $100,000 grant. GRID is a national leader in making renewable energy technology and job training accessible to economic and environmental justice communities. Additionally, U.S. Bank will continue to partner with the American Indian College Fund to offer $25,000 in renewable energy scholarships to students from tribal communities through the 2021-2022 academic year.

U.S. Bank has been a partner of GRID since 2010, supporting GRID’s low-income solar and workforce development programs in California (Bay Area, North Valley, Inland Empire, San Diego and Greater Los Angeles regions) and Colorado. In 2018, U.S. Bank expanded its national partnership with GRID to support its National Tribal Program that implements solar installations and job training programs in tribal communities.  

“With the support from U.S. Bank, GRID is continuing to advance tribal energy sovereignty with the benefits of renewable energy and solar jobs,” says Adam Bad Wound, vice president of development for GRID. “With hands-on solar job training and relationships with local solar companies and tribal colleges, we are providing individuals the opportunity to join a growing solar industry.”        

With renewed support from U.S. Bank, GRID plans to install up to one megawatt of solar power on over 120 low-income tribal homes and community buildings for tribal partners in Montana, California, Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Washington in the coming year. Additionally, the extended partnership will allow GRID to provide hands-on solar training for up to 80 tribal members while strengthening partnerships with tribal job training organizations and colleges.

“Environmental responsibility is integral to the success of our business,” said Reba Dominski, chief social responsibility officer for U.S. Bank. “Extending our partnership with GRID is one of the ways we are addressing environmental challenges. GRID does extensive work to create sustainable jobs, power more homes and communities with renewable energy and offer fellowships for tribal members. We are grateful for our continued partnership and the work we will accomplish together this year.” 

Finally, U.S. Bank will continue its work with the American Indian College Fund to award scholarships to students pursuing post-secondary degrees in fields of study that lead to careers in solar energy. The College Fund will support higher education attainment, career readiness services, hands-on training, and job placement for these scholars, thereby supporting environmental sustainability and energy sovereignty for tribal communities.

About GRID Alternatives

GRID Alternatives is a national leader in making clean, affordable solar power and solar jobs accessible to economic and environmental justice communities. Using a unique, people-first model, GRID develops and implements solar projects that serve qualifying households and affordable housing providers, while providing hands-on job training and connections to clean mobility and battery storage incentive programs. GRID has installed solar for more than 20,500 families to-date and helped households and housing providers save $533 million in lifetime electricity costs, while training over 32,000 people. GRID Alternatives has eight regional offices and affiliates serving California, Colorado, the mid-Atlantic region, and Tribal communities nationwide, and serves communities in Nicaragua, Nepal and Mexico. For more information, visit gridalternatives.org.

About U.S. Bank

U.S. Bancorp, with nearly 70,000 employees and $567 billion in assets as of September 30, 2021, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association. The Minneapolis-based company serves millions of customers locally, nationally and globally through a diversified mix of businesses: Consumer and Business Banking; Payment Services; Corporate & Commercial Banking; and Wealth Management and Investment Services. The company has been recognized for its approach to digital innovation, social responsibility, and customer service, including being named one of the 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies and Fortune’s most admired superregional bank.