Wells Fargo Gives $500,000 Grant for Developing Green Energy

In addition to rooftop solar, the grant will expand the amount of open public space available to residents of the Northeast Valley.

The Wells Fargo Foundation has announced a grant of $500,000 to a broad-based coalition aimed at attracting clean energy investments, stimulate local workforce and combat air quality issues.

The grant will support the group’s bold goals of creating 150 new local jobs and generating at least $5 million in new private investment through the installation of five megawatts of rooftop solar. In addition to rooftop solar, the grant will expand the amount of open public space available to residents of the Northeast Valley.

Grant recipients include the Los Angeles Business Council Institute (LABCi) as the team lead, Pacoima Beautiful, GRID Alternatives, The Trust for Public Land, and Los Angeles Conservation Corps.

“In supporting these organizations we are furthering our commitment to the Northeast Valley and promoting a healthier future for these communities,” said Robin Choi, San Fernando Valley region bank president for Wells Fargo. “This grant will also provide economic advancement opportunities for local area residents.”

Sun Valley and Pacoima have higher unemployment rates and lower than average incomes than the City of Los Angeles.

Negative health outcomes from pollution exposure, such as acute respiratory and circulatory illness, are exacerbated in the Northeast Valley, with the area scoring in the bottom 25 percent of clean air in the state, and a childhood asthma prevalence 20 percent higher than the state average.

“Even though the need is great in Sun Valley and Pacoima, they have essentially been left out of the clean energy economy that’s booming in cities throughout California,” said Los Angeles Business Council Institute (LABCi) president Mary Leslie.

“This grant is an important first step toward improving quality of life and public health while also creating quality, good-paying jobs in an area where they are needed most,” she added.