SunPower Corp., a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency silicon-based solar modules, announcedyesterday the creation of the SunPower Foundation, a nonprofitorganization “focused on empowering, inspiring and motivating a newgeneration of solar leaders in communities around the world.” Theorganization is the first of its kind, wholly funded by a major solarcompany.

The foundation’s first initiative, 100 People Under the Sun,centers on education. The joint effort — which brings together WinrockInternational, Solar Electric Light Fund, Black Rock Solar, GridAlternatives, and the American African Nuru Foundation — providesclassroom lesson plans that encourage students identify how they useenergy and investigate the use of solar energy in their localcommunities. A series of 12 videos, available on the internet, featuresindividuals from around the world as they discuss topics like globalwarming, solar power, and conventional sources of electricity.

As SunPower Corp. CEO Tom Werner notes, the foundation was conceivedas a community-based effort to promote solutions to future energychallenges:

We established the SunPower Foundation to ‘give back’through education and building stronger communities. It is our hopethat the Foundation will encourage more people to consider how theelectricity they use is generated, and the global potential ofreliable, emission-free solar power to reduce the effects of climatechange.

The press release (link above) cites some early feedback showingthat the foundation’s message resonates with teachers and studentsalike: “Today’s young people are concerned about the real threat ofglobal warming, and are looking to solutions such as solar power toreduce the damage brought on by over-dependence on fossil fuels,” saidGreg Holman, a 6th-grade teacher in Paradise, Calif. “I’m using The 100People Under the Sun curriculum to help my students become energyleaders through education, awareness and community participation.”

If you’re interested in learning more, check the SunPower Foundation on Twitter and/or Facebook. The “100 People” videos are worth a look, too.

Source