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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — This Black History month, WCNC is spotlighting those making a difference in the communities they serve.
A Charlotte man is helping families struggling with high energy costs and showing them how solar energy can be a part of the solution.
The solar industry is one of the fastest growing fields in the country, yet African Americans remain underrepresented.
Inside a busy warehouse on Granite Street, the sound of a forklift represents hope. Nathan Roberts was carefully loading and preparing solar panels to send to people across the world.
“It’s more about education, we’re not getting educated on going green, on living renewable,” Roberts said.
Roberts started his own business called Solar Cellz USA five years ago to teach others why solar energy matters.
“It’s important because we’re not using coal, we’re not using much nuclear, we’re using more wind, more renewable energy, for the environment, safer for the environment,” Roberts said.
According to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, only 8% of solar workers are African American.
“People are not interested because it pushes out those low numbers, but the job growth is there — residential solar, commercial solar,” Roberts said.
As the demand for clean energy increases, Roberts expanded his business to Africa six months ago. He wanted people without reliable access to electricity to see someone who looks like them leading the work.
“The biggest takeaway in Africa is that they’re learning how to add these solar panels to villages where there’s no light at all,” Roberts said. “They don’t have electricity at all and they’re getting battery backup systems with the solar and so these villages are now having light when they didn’t have light before.”
Kwamboka works at the Kenya office.
“It has made a difference in our lives, especially for my community because I do come from a rural area,” Kwamboka said.
She says the installation of solar panels means families worry less about power outages, unbearable costs, and how children will complete their homework.
“They are able to do their assignments, they do not have to use switches to see their books, they can see during the night,” Kwamboka said. “Some of them check into school early in the morning so with solar you know you can have showers in the morning, you don’t have to shower with cold water.”
For Roberts, it’s about more than solar panels, it’s about showing people that when the lights turn on, so do possibilities and dreams.
“It makes me feel like I’m doing something for the planet that I can lead on to generations and generations to come,” Roberts said. “Educating one and that person spreads it out to 10, it keeps on spreading.”
Roberts offers classes to electricians, college students, and anyone else who’s interested at Solar Cellz USA.
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