Ubits Winter 2023
New solar panel installation at the Oasis of Hope Center supplies more than power Nestled on G Street among homes, churches, and businesses, the Oasis of Hope Center overlooks downtown Tacoma and farther still to the Cascade Range and mighty Mt. Rainier. Situated in the Hilltop neighborhood, the Center has been providing vital services to our community’s youth for 18 years. As a faith-based nonprofit, the Center is “firmly dedicated to serving our community with integrity, while engaging our neighborhood families. We believe in education, mentoring, providing health services, counseling, and youth crisis prevention resources [for] building nurturing relationships... that will foster individual growth.” In this spirit of providing education and inspiration to their community, the Center began adding solar panels to their building, demonstrating the feasibility of projects like this in the Hilltop neighborhood. Additionally, the renewable energy system would help offset the Oasis of Hope’s energy costs, freeing up more of the Center’s resources for its programs and services. While the Center was eager to begin work on the project, as a nonprofit, they needed financial and technical assistance to make their dream a reality. They applied for and were awarded an Evergreen Options grant. These grants are funded by Tacoma Power customers who participate in Evergreen Options. The funds buy renewable energy certificates and support renewable energy through grants.
p The Oasis of Hope Center solar panel installation with a ribbon cutting on Sept. 16. From left to right: Edwin Wanji, founder and CEO of Sphere Solar Energy; Bishop Prentis Johnson, Greater Christ Temple of Tacoma; Chris Robinson, superintendent of Tacoma Power; Christine Cooley, former chair of the Tacoma Public Utility Board; Bobby Coleman, board member of Spark Northwest; Tim Thomas, executive director of the Oasis of Hope Center.
Executive Director of the Center, Tim Thomas, explained the importance of the solar panel installation.
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The Evergreen Options grant awarded to the Center provided $50,000 toward their project. Spark Northwest, another nonprofit whose mission is “partner[ing] with communities to build an equitable clean energy future,” secured additional funding and provided project management assistance. Finally, Sphere Solar Energy, a minority-owned business and a union-signatory electrical contractor, installed the project.
The community here [Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood] doesn’t have a lot of education or experience with renewable energy. This installation will spark conversations; people will ask, ‘what is that on your roof?’ and we will be able to talk about the importance of renewable energy, and the careers available to young people in renewable energy.” Continued on next page...
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New lighting under Union Avenue bridge
Crews assist after November storm
Safer spawning for salmon