The Left Coast Fund

Lincoln Park Solar Garden, Duluth, MN—Providing veterans and low-income families with renewable power Partial funding from the Left Coast Fund Matching Grant Challenge The development of the Lincoln Park Solar Garden is underway in Duluth, Minnesota, a project that will provide power for homeless veterans and seed an emergency energy fund for low-income families. The iconic 40 kilowatt array will stand at the entrance to the Lincoln Park neighborhood and feature opportunities for community education and neighborhood revitalization led by Ecolibrium3, a local nonprofit organization.      One quarter of the array will power the Duluth Veterans’ Place, a project by the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans that provides housing and services to Duluth’s veteran population. Their work has effectively ended homelessness among veterans in northeastern Minnesota and the value of the solar power will allow them to spend less on operational costs and more on veteran serv

Townsend Family Farm, Key West----organic farming powered by solar energy. Partial funding provided by Left Coast Fund.   Project info directly from the Townsends: "We began farming in Key West, FL in 2017 and we have grown our farm very organically over the last two years.   We are expanding our current farm and are setting up a greenhouse to produce more much needed locally sourced vegetables for our little island community at the end of the Florida Keys. How we grow on an island: We grow aeroponically and vertically! Our aeroponic towers are perfect for Key West where the soil is rocky and where fresh water is scarce. Our farming system uses 80% less water than conventional farming and minimizes damage from pests and plant disease. The amount of sunlight and ideal weather here add to the mix to ensure success with growing. We have adopted rainwater collection and solar power as means to grow here on the island. We ensure our highest standards are met by m

NH Solar Shares Community Solar PV Project, Warren, New Hampshire Appleknockers General Store South Facing Roof Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative located at Appleknockers General Store in Warren, NH.  Estimated system size 28 kW.     NH Solar Shares is a program run by the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative designed to share solar energy with income eligible families, increase the portion of solar energy on the grid and contribute to a healthier environment. “When we first heard about NH Solar Shares and their mission to bring the benefits of solar energy to local families in our area, we were immediately interested,” said store owner, Tori Berger.   “We want to support our local community in any way we can and we have the perfect roof for installing solar panels.”    NH Solar Shares built their first community solar project in Plymouth, NH last Fall on the hillside behind the Frosty Scoops ice cream stand owned by the Common Man Family of Restaurants

South Congregational Church Pittsfield, Massachusetts To offset the growing cost of electricity required to sustain its much-needed community missions, South Congregational Church installed 100 solar panels on the church roof August 2019, at a cost of $103,500.  The Left Coast Fund provided a challenge grant to help reach the needed fundraising goal.

Project #2:  Residential rooftop solar, San Diego, California.   14 panels, 6kW.  $34,000 total cost.  Left Coast Fund manager provided funding for this project.  10kW battery storage included. System is in addition to existing 16 panel system installed 4 years earlier.  The 2 systems along with battery are designed to serve complete electrical needs for the 2700 square foot house, including in-home charging for 2 electric vehicles and 1 electric bike.

Completed Project #1---state of Maine :  University of New England Marine Science Center, Biddeford, Maine Standard Efficiency System Details: (55) Q-Cells 325 watt solar panels - (17.875kW) (1) 14.4kW Solar Edge 208 volt inverter with individual panel optimizers Expected production = 20,720 kWh/year Total Installed Cost = $48,644 Left Coast Fund provided funding along with the University of New England School of Marine Programs, Department of Environmental Studies, and Undergraduate Student Government.   System completed April 2019

Welcome to the Left Coast Fund, supporting education, clean energy and environmental advocacy in the USA and around the world.