Black Lives Matter

The Honnold Foundation’s energy access work grows from our commitment to justice. We know opportunities are not equal for everyone, but we believe that with sufficient work, a more just and equitable world is possible. We have to start with the fundamentals. Energy access is fundamental. So is the ability to live without fear of being killed by police.

Black lives matter. So, for the month of June, we're asking you to consider making a gift to one of the following Black-led organizations. To support their work is to invest in dismantling systemic racism in America.

Equal Justice Initiative

Black Visions Collective

Movement for Black Lives

Black Youth Project 100

We continue to support our nonprofit solar energy partners worldwide. We continue to seek new partners whose leaders come from the communities they serve, because we know they’re uniquely equipped to address local needs. We are committed to continuing our work within HF— to ensure justice and equity in our grant-making, in our hiring and managing, and in communicating with our stakeholders. And we know that there is still much to be done.

Black lives matter, today and every day. Until our society reflects that fundamental truth, we’ll keep working.

- Dory Trimble, Executive Director

Meet our New Partners

By Dory Trimble, Executive Director

We’re delighted to announce the eight exceptional organizations that will be joining the Honnold Foundation partner slate this year. We received 712 applications from 91 countries on every continent except Antarctica— and from that group, our Grant Advisory Committee and internal review team selected the following organizations. 

To highlight a few:

• In Cambodia, we’re supporting the dedicated physicians and midwives of The Lake Clinic as they provide solar-powered health services to remote villages by boat;

• In the USA, we’re working alongside the team at Coalfield Development to transition Appalachian towns to a solar-powered future;

• In Indonesia, we’re funding KOPPESDA, who encourage rural farmers to pay for their solar home systems with bamboo poles or coconut oil instead of cash;

• In Ecuador, we’re supporting Kara Solar and the solar-powered canoes they’re using to transform water transportation on the Amazon River.

And in Brazil, Guatemala, the Solomon Islands, and Mexico, our other new partners are developing their own solar powered community initiatives, providing access to water, food, and power where before there was none.

Each of these organizations works in different ways, but they’re united by a common vision: a world where solar power can improve people’s lives, reduce environmental impact, and increase their community’s ability to weather change.

Now, we’re all experiencing an unprecedented change. In the face of the pandemic, the Honnold Foundation has watched our existing partners rise to the challenge. We’ve been awed by their resilience, creativity, and perseverance. Our commitment to their work has only deepened over time, even as some solar installations are put on hold to protect the communities they serve. 

Our work continues. Our partners are not doing less during this crisis, they’re doing more. Your support matters now more than ever. I encourage you to meet our new partners, consider the essential roles they play in their communities, and join us in supporting their work. Together, we can build a brighter world.

Meet our Spring 2020 Core Grant Recipients

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This year, the Honnold Foundation is committed to giving away US$1M. We can’t do it without your help. If you’re inspired by these partners, and want to join us in advancing their work, we invite you to make a gift today.

Rebuilding After the Fire: Solar Energy in Paradise, California

In 2018, wildfires swept across Paradise, California and surrounding communities, destroying residents’ homes and the livelihoods of countless more. In response, GRID Alternatives North Valley launched a disaster recovery initiative to help low income homeowners rebuild, using their unique volunteer training model to create economic opportunity for underserved communities in the process.

Photographer Nathan Heleine visited Paradise capturing residents’ loss, recovery efforts, and undeniable resiliency as they rebuild.

Since January 2020, California has required all new homes to have solar panels as part of its mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While the law marks a victory in the fight against climate change, it also means that homeowners rebuilding have one more cost to consider.

GRID North Valley’s disaster resiliency program bridges this economic divide by offering free solar energy installations to qualifying homeowners.

Evelyn Thomas (left) made a harrowing escape to survive the 2018 Camp Fire. After losing her house and much of her community to the fire, she’s starting over with a new home. With the help of Honnold Foundation funding, GRID North Valley installed a solar energy system on Evelyn’s new home as one of the first residents to benefit from GRID’s disaster recovery initiative.

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GRID Alternatives also offers skilled trades training, connecting community members with job opportunities.

Sterling Gillmer (left) graduated from GRID’s workforce training and was soon hired by GRID’s North Valley office. In addition to his work in the community with GRID, Sterling volunteers as a youth basketball coach for his kids’ team.

In addition to being a part of the solar installation team, Sterling advocates for anti-recidivism work and helps GRID connect with members of the community who are overcoming a history in the criminal justice system.

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Solar installations bring the entire community together. Volunteers, contractors, GRID staff, and installation trainees work together to mount panels, install electrical wiring, and more.

GRID’s training program prepares students with the solar installation skills needed to secure an entry level job in the industry.

The Honnold Foundation is committed to helping GRID North Valley increase disaster resiliency in Northern California.  Make a gift today to support GRID North Valley, victims of the Paradise wildfire, and future Honnold Foundation partners.

Donate Now

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A Message from Alex

By Alex Honnold, Founder

I’ve been struggling to write anything that doesn’t sound inconsequential in the face of a global pandemic, so I’ll get right to the point:

Our work at the Honnold Foundation continues. This year marked our first open call for new grant partners— the first time we’ve actively asked the world to submit their best ideas. That work continues in spite of the pandemic swirling around us, and we’ll announce our new grantees in April. For me, choosing new partners is a much needed relief from the daily news, and reading grant applications is one of the most heartening parts of my day. There’s something incredibly refreshing about reading peoples’ best ideas for using solar energy to do something useful for their community, and all of us at the Honnold Foundation are excited to share those stories with you soon. 

Energy access is essential, and our mission of promoting solar energy for a more equitable world is as important now as ever. 

In the coming months and years communities will be tested in new and challenging ways (I write that thinking about COVID-19, but it applies more broadly to our changing climate as well.) Solar energy access is a powerful way to boost resilience— it creates jobs, reduces environmental impact, and increases self-sufficiency and self-determination for marginalized communities. It’s important work— meaningful enough to me that I started a foundation to support it while I still lived in a van full time, seven years ago. And while it can be hard to look past our current crisis, energy access remains essential. 

There’s no ask here. If you’ve supported the Honnold Foundation in some way in the past, we want you to know we appreciate you, and, and that we remain as committed to our work as ever. This year we plan to give more than $800,000 to our nonprofit partners around the world. In Puerto Rico, we’ve been working with Casa Pueblo to build the island’s first cooperatively managed solar microgrid, and after a year of planning and community organizing, the first solar panels were installed on February 28th. 

So in a day that’s probably full of gloomy news, enjoy this photo and know that there is still positive change being made in the world. 

Thanks. And stay safe out there, 

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The first solar panels in the Adjuntas, Puerto Rico microgrid, installed on the roofs of local business. These panels are mounted with an innovative new racking system designed to withstand the 165 mile per hour winds associated with Category 5 hurricanes. (Photo: Casa Pueblo)

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Community Engagement with Casa Pueblo

The Honnold Foundation and Casa Pueblo have been hard at work on making Puerto Rico’s newest cooperatively-managed and community-owned microgrid a reality. Soon, Rivian’s second life batteries will be used as the energy storage solution for a microgrid that powers small businesses in the town of Adjuntas— ensuring climate and disaster resilience for the heart of the community.

For the past year, the Honnold Foundation has worked side by side with the community to develop an energy solution that addresses local needs. Providing the materials and engineering expertise is just one part of establishing a community-owned microgrid.

Casa Pueblo

Adjuntas, PR

Honnold Foundation Project Manager Cynthia Arellano has spent extensive time in Puerto Rico, working with Casa Pueblo founders Tinti Deyá Díaz and Alexis Massol González, along with their son and current Associate Director, Dr. Arturo Massol-Deyá. With their support and guidance, Honnold Foundation has gotten to know the small business community in Adjuntas, and learned more about their vision for a solar-powered island.

Founders Tinti Deyá Díaz and Alexis Massol González

Dr. Arturo Massol-Deyá, Associate Director of Casa Pueblo

Cynthia Arellano, Project Manager

Arturo introduces Honnold Foundation, Rivian, and the microgrid project to the Adjuntas community.

Alex Honnold meets with community members during the team’s initial planning visit.

After a series of community meetings, it became clear that solar panels would have the greatest impact for small businesses in the center of Adjuntas. Not only are these businesses central to the Adjuntas economy, but in natural disasters, they become hubs for community services. In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, local business owners powered up diesel generators to provide families with food, cold storage for medical supplies, charging stations for cell phones, and other critical support services.

Ultimately, Adjuntas’ residents determined that the microgrid’s solar energy should be owned and distributed by the community via a newly formed nonprofit, ACESA. ACESA will provide small businesses with energy at a reduced rate. After reinvesting some profits into microgrid maintenance and repair, ACESA plans to invest earnings into social good initiatives throughout the town of Adjuntas.

Meet some of ACESA’s leadership team and Casa Pueblo’s staff, pictured below.

Gustavo Irizarry, Lucy's Pizza Owner (Copy)

Jose Colon, Digital Point Owner (Copy)

Abraham Gonzalez, Hospice Center Owner (Copy)

Wanda Vasquez, Hardware Store Owner (Copy)

Tommy Barcelo II, Property Owner (Copy)

Walter Acevedo, Bakery Owner (Copy)

Rebecca, Casa Pueblo Staff (Copy)

Jorgie, Casa Pueblo Staff (Copy)

We’re delighted to play a role in building a brighter future for Adjuntas, and immensely proud to work alongside the talented teams at Casa Pueblo and Rivian. Check out a few more photos from our time in Puerto Rico, and make a gift today to support Casa Pueblo, the city of Adjuntas, and future Honnold Foundation community partners.

Donate Now

Photos by Ben Moon and the Honnold Foundation

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Become a Honnold Foundation Partner

By Dory Trimble, Executive Director

In 2012, Alex Honnold was living in a van he couldn’t stand up in. He was a sponsored athlete, sure, and to rock climbers he was well known — but to most of the world, Alex was still just another guy who happened to be very good at a sport not many people cared about. And that year, on the drive back from a day of climbing in Colorado’s Eldorado Canyon, he decided to start giving away one third of his income to support solar energy access worldwide.

Since then, a lot has changed. The Honnold Foundation continues to fund solar energy access initiatives all over the world, and Alex continues to guide the organization with his now-famous candor, clarity, and commitment to taking action. In the past seven years, we’ve supported frontline solar energy access work in Malawi, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Angola; we’ve provided grants to fund residential solar installations in suburban Sacramento and for chapter houses in the Navajo Nation. In 2019, we made our first ever multi-year grant commitment to our partners at GRID Alternatives, and we supported the North End Woodward Community Coalition’s vision for a solar-powered Detroit.

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GRID Alternatives volunteers hard at work on a solar install for a homeowner on the Navajo Nation. Photo: Irene Yee

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Rev. Joan Ross (Director of NEWCC,) Betty (homeowner and solar install beneficiary,) Alex Honnold, and Dory Trimble look on as the first solar panels are mounted on Betty’s roof. Photo: Mandy Moran

In 2020, we’re taking one more step toward a brighter world. All of us at HF are delighted to announce the launch of our first ever open call for grant proposals. Starting on January 13, 2020, we’re inviting community-based organizations engaging in solar energy access work all over the world to tell us about their impact and their aspirations. Our unrestricted grants will generally range in size from $10,000 to $100,000, and are designed to support precedent-setting solar energy projects that reduce environmental impact and improve human lives.

No matter who you are, or where you live, we believe that energy should be clean, affordable, accessible, and easy to use. We hope you’ll join us in spreading the word about this open call for proposals, and we can’t wait to meet the communities and solar leaders whose work we’ll be supporting this year.

Learn more about our open call for grant proposals here, or join our mailing list to get reminders about the application process. If you have questions about the open call, or would like to make a press inquiry, you can contact the team at grants@honnoldfoundation.org.

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Solar Energy and Social Justice

By Emily Peterson, Summer Intern 2019

Are you interested in an internship with the Honnold Foundation? We offer remote and office-based internships on a semester schedule. Follow us on social media or join the mailing list to be the first to hear about new opportunities.

At the Honnold Foundation, we believe the people most affected by climate change are those already disadvantaged in some way because of factors like race, income, and gender. Increasing energy access using solar can help change the trajectory of climate change worldwide while increasing resiliency and power on a community level. 

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The community of Adjuntas celebrating a solar-powered future for Puerto Rico. Photo by Ruben Salgado Escudero

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Typically, regions that have boomed economically have done so at a high environmental cost: burning coal to power factories, clearcutting forests and draining wetlands to build homes and shopping centers, and using gasoline to fuel cars. In areas that have not undergone this economic boom, an opportunity exists to change the parallel relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation. In Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, the Honnold Foundation is partnering with Casa Pueblo, a community-based organization focused on environmental conservation and sustainable development, to create a community-owned solar microgrid.

Powered by solar energy since 1999, Casa Pueblo understands the power of solar to drive economic and environmental change. In Adjuntas, businesses typically spend about a third of their operational costs on energy. “Energy independence means that people will be able to produce their own energy for their own productive activities… instead of paying someone else” says Arturo Massol-Deyá, Associate Director of Casa Pueblo. “And when they’re doing that, we’re promoting economic activation. Now we can talk about dealing with poverty levels in the area… And the beauty of this is that instead of us generating greenhouse gases and hurting nature that eventually pays back with hurricanes or droughts or other issues related to climate change, now we can reduce our ecological footprint.” 

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A volunteer installer at work on a GRID Alternatives project in the Navajo Nation. Photo by Irene Yee.

For longtime Honnold Foundation partner GRID Alternatives, solar education also has measurable social justice implications. In addition to installing solar on homes to reduce energy costs and dependence on electric utilities, the organization teaches community members how to install and repair solar panels themselves. A similar model is in the works with a new Foundation partner, the North End Woodward Community Coalition (NEWCC) in Detroit. Long after the initial solar panels are installed, members of these communities have technical skills that can continue to make their neighborhoods more self-sufficient and environmentally resilient. 

At the Honnold Foundation, we believe that solar energy can create a more equitable world– by increasing the economic resiliency of marginalized communities, supporting education and health for communities of color, and creating inexpensive power for homes who wouldn’t be able to pay for electricity otherwise. Increasing solar energy access is a powerful tool to address both environmental and social justice issues, and the Honnold Foundation partners with organizations who utilize solar to its full potential.  

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Alex's Holiday Reading List

Books about the environment, energy access, the economy, and outdoor exploration have all influenced the creation of the Honnold Foundation, and the evolution of Alex's approach to the world. For Alex and the rest of the HF team, one of the best ways to spend a mandatory rest day is sitting down with a good book.

“I read all these books during my Free Solo movie tour,” Alex says about his newest book recommendations. “So at least being a movie star is good for something! I'm getting an education!”

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Homo Deus, by Yuval Noah Harari

Alex says: “Brad Gobright recommended this to me a long time ago and I finally read it while flying too much for Free Solo screenings. I didn't really love it— it felt too futuristic and speculative. Too far out and unfounded. But gives you things to think about for sure.”

IndieBound | Amazon

The Long Walk, by Sławomir Rawicz

Alex says: “This is an epic story about a Polish POW escaping a Russian labor camp during World War II. I thought this was amazing as I read it until I mentioned it to Jimmy Chin, who told me that it was all fake. Sadly, after researching it a bit, i discovered that Jimmy was right. I wouldn't encourage anyone to read it, since it's fake…”

IndieBound | Amazon

21 Lessons for the 21st Century, by Yuval Noah Harari

Alex says: “I liked this book much more than Homo Deus. In fact, it felt like it was the book that I was expecting from Homo Deus. It seemed more relevant and more important for my own life. I rather enjoyed it.”

IndieBound | Amazon

The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander

Alex says: “This book was given to me by a friend whose copy had tons of underlined and highlighted passages. It made an already incredibly powerful book even more meaningful.  This book fundamentally changed the way I think about crime and incarceration in the United States. I'd strongly encourage every US citizen to read it.”

IndieBound | Amazon

Are Prisons Obsolete, by Angela Davis

Alex says: “Short answer: yes. This was a good follow up to The New Jim Crow and posed more questions about the United States justice system. Or lack thereof.”

IndieBound | Amazon

Karakoram, by Steve Swenson

Alex says: “Steve is one of the kindest men in climbing, and it was a pleasure to read his book about 30 years or so of climbing experience in the Karakoram. His expeditions and climbs are inspiring in their own right, but the life he's lived outside of climbing is maybe more impressive. And I'm hoping to climb in Pakistan this year so this was a great primer.”

IndieBound | Amazon

Measure What Matters, by John Doerr

Alex says: “This was given to me at a business event. I found it not super useful for my personal life— it probably means more to someone starting a tech company. It's all about Objectives and Key Results, which help organizations like Google align around goals. But for an individual, I think it's probably easier to just write a to do list in a journal.”

IndieBound | Amazon

Winners Take All, by Anand Giridharadas

Alex says: “This was given to me at an event by someone who thought it would be important for me to read. It was his library book, so I plowed through it in three days to make sure he could return it on time. As he predicted, it was thought provoking and relevant for me. Definitely worth a read for anyone in a position of privilege. “

IndieBound | Amazon

Prisoners of Geography, by Tim Marshall 

Alex says: “Geography determines much about global politics, and this book helps untangle the mess. I really enjoyed it and felt like I learned a lot. Made me want to learn more about geopolitics.”

IndieBound | Amazon

Factfulness, by Hans Rosling

Alex says: “I think this is a pretty darn good book. My biggest take away is probably to think about the world in terms of 4 levels of development, instead of trying to break it down into west/global south or developed/developing or whatever else. It has plenty of good ideas that are well presented.”

IndieBound | Amazon

Energy and Civilization: A History, by Vaclav Smil

Alex says: “This seems like it should be extremely boring since it's basically a textbook about energy use through the ages. But it's actually surprisingly readable and interesting. It's the first Smil book that I've read, I doubt it will be the last.”

IndieBound | Amazon

Want more?

If you’ve already powered through this reading list and are hungry for more, never fear! Alex and the HF team have plenty more recommendations for you. Or, if there’s a recommendation you’re dying to share with Alex, pass it along! If he likes it enough, your title might make its way onto the next book list.

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Alex's Reading List

Books about the environment, energy access, the economy, and the way we eat have all influenced the creation of the Honnold Foundation, and the evolution of Alex's approach to the world. Here at HF, we're strong believers in the power of a good book-- and so we've selected 23 of Alex's favorites (and some color commentary) to give you a peek behind the scenes.

"If you look at all the books together," Alex says, "it gives a pretty good sense of how my brain works now.”

Looking for more recommendations? We’re adding new titles all the time! Click here to explore fresh picks from Alex’s Book List.

Climate & Environment

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The World Without Us, By Alan Weisman

Alex says: "I think about this book a lot. It’s interesting to imagine how the world would heal without us..."

IndieBound | Amazon

The Sixth Extinction, By Elizabeth Kolbert

Alex says: "Very depressing. Educational, but depressing."

IndieBound | Amazon 

Overview: A New Perspective Of Earth, By Benjamin Grant

Alex says: "I loved this book, and follow @dailyoverview on Instagram. It helps give a global perspective."

IndieBound | Amazon

The Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature In A Post-Wild World, By Emma Marris

Alex says: "I actually think of this book more than I expected to when I first read it - the idea of our random extra spaces (think highway medians) being nature really sunk in.

IndieBound | Amazon

Money and How We Spend It

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This Changes Everything: Capitalism Vs Climate, By Naomi Klein

Alex says: "Depressing. Good, but grim. Kind of like the economic version of The Sixth Extinction."

IndieBound | Amazon

The Better World Shopping Guide: How Every Dollar Can Make A Difference, By Ellis Jones

Alex says: "My sister bought this for me and signed it with the inscription: For Alex - In case you ever start giving a shit. Love, Stasia.” It was the beginning of a long process in which I’ve given more and more shits.

IndieBound | Amazon

Built To Last: Successful Habits Of Visionary Companies, By Jim Collins

Alex says: "I read Jim’s books because I once saw a quote where Tommy Caldwell said that Jim was his favorite author. That was before I knew Tommy really well so I couldn’t ask him about it - all I could do was read all the books. It's also worth saying that Jim Collins, besides being the best selling business author of all time or something like that, has also free soloed The Naked Edge (5 pitch 5.11c). Whoa!""

IndieBound | Amazon

Let My People Go Surfing: The Education Of A Reluctant Businessman, By Yvon Chouinard

Alex says: "I have a ton of respect for Yvon both as a climber and a businessman. He’s definitely lived his life correctly."

IndieBound | Amazon

What We Eat

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In Defence Of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, By Michael Pollan

Alex says: “Eat real food, mostly plants, not too much.” I think of that all the time. Words to live by."

IndieBound | Amazon

 Eat And Run: My Unlikely Journey To Ultramarathon Greatness, By Scott Jurek

Alex says: “I’m good friends with Scott and his wife so I’m biased, but I found this book to be an inspiring tale of veganhood. Scott’s the man!”

IndieBound | Amazon

Eating Animals, By Jonathan Safran Foer

Alex says: “This book made me care more about animal rights than anything else I’ve read. I’d already been vegetarian for years when I read it, but it made me appreciate the suffering of animals a lot more.”

IndieBound | Amazon

The Dorito Effect: Surprising New Truth About Food And Flavor, By Mark Schatzker

Alex says: "I remember nothing about this. Maybe the book is as empty as a Dorito..."

IndieBound | Amazon

 

ADVENTURE & EXPLORATION

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Barbarian Days, By William Finnegan

Alex says: "A true surfing lifer! Makes me hope that I can have that kind of love for climbing my whole life. This book was Jimmy Chin’s - I borrowed it in Antarctica after I finished all of mine... the beauty of real, paper books."

IndieBound | Amazon

With Bare Hands: The True Store Of Alain Robert, The Real-Life Spiderman, By Alain Robert

Alex says: "This book was either translated to English by Google or by someone who didn’t actually speak English. But thankfully I speak French, so it made some sense anyway. But the climbing is amazing."

IndieBound | Amazon

To Be Brave, By Royal Robbins

Alex says: "Royal is a total legend and I bought this book at a talk that he gave. It’s too bad that he didn’t have enough time to write more of his story before he died."

Amazon

The Endurance: Shackelton’s Legendary Antartic Expedition, By Caroline Alexander

Alex says: "This is possibly the greatest adventure tale of all time. Must read!"

IndieBound | Amazon

No Picnic On Mt. Kenya, By Felice Benuzzi

Alex says: "I read this right before climbing Mt Kenya. It was the proper primer. Made me grateful that I didn’t have to escape from a POW camp before undertaking my climb..."

IndieBound | Amazon

Queen Maud Land Antartica, By Ivar Tollefsen

Alex says: "I read this in Antarctica and we referenced the photos all the time for beta and route descriptions. It’s a great, readable account of the first climbing trip to Queen Maud Land."

Amazon

Everything Else

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Lighting The World, By Jim Rogers And Stephen P. Williams

Alex says: "A good reminder that there are 1 billion people on earth without access to power and that we should be doing something about it. Which is a big part of why I started the Honnold Foundation."

IndieBound | Amazon

Letter To A Christian Nation, By Sam Harris

Alex says: "I loved this book - I wish I could give a copy to everyone in America. It’s freakin’ genius. I read it in a sitting. Two different times."

IndieBound | Amazon

Weep Not Child, By Ngugi Wa Thiong’o

Alex says: "I rarely read fiction. When I do, I make sure it’s depressing African fiction while on an expedition in Africa. But it was quite moving."

IndieBound | Amazon

Rules For A Knight, By Ethan Hawke

Alex says: "Conrad Anker gave me this book and it’s freakin’ great. I’ve read it several times and given a few copies to friends. It makes me want to be a better knight."

IndieBound | Amazon

Astrophysics For People In A Hurry, By Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Alex says: "Fun, easy reading that reminds us of our place in the universe."

IndieBound | Amazon

Want More?

Download Alex's complete reading list, including 80 additional titles not listed here.

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Exploring Solar in Angola

by Maury Birdwell, former Executive Director & Board chair

Angola is a stark, harsh country in many ways. Like much of the developing world it lacks the infrastructure - both technologically and democratically - to provide equal opportunity across its vast social and physical geography. The capital of Luanda grants a striking visual metaphor: gazing from the rooftops at night one sees mud-brick hovels next door to ostentatious night clubs and five star hotels. The countryside is ravaged of any wildlife, and everywhere we drove it was ablaze with field clearance burning. At first blush its easy to greet this with despondence and pessimism; however, when viewed in the context of a country barely a decade free from thirty four years of civil war things take on a rosier glow.

Pause on that for a second: many Angolans lived a practical lifetime in a constant state of unrest, wherein the present state of peace has become the exception to their existence. For those of us in the western world we cannot and will not ever know what that really means. Our de facto team leader Stacy Bare had spent nearly a year clearing land mines, simply aiming to return the countryside to a basic state of usability. How many times have you scouted what looks to be a promising climbing destination only to abandon it because the approach was too threatened by the possibility of land mines?

On August 30, Alex Honnold, Stacy Bare, Ted Hesser, and myself boarded flights to Luanda with some audacious goals for a two week trip: we sought to sample the climbing, see the state of affairs 10 years after Stacy's last visit, and initiate a pilot program for off grid solar entrepreneurship. Ted in particular (with what help I could offer) had been pushing hard and fast on the latter goal for the better part of six months. We had made great strides but hit many roadblocks - in fact our solar products were still stuck in customs when we arrived in country. Nonetheless, we had come as far as we could from our computer screens and Skype, the only thing left to do was get on the ground and figure out if all the other off grid solar companies who refused to enter Angola thus far were right after all.

This is where the horizon begins to look bright. Not only did we establish a handful of routes from 5.7 to 5.13c, we learned that the HALO Trust (Stacy's former employer) and other similar organizations just passed the halfway mark to clearing the roughly 1,500 documented minefields across the country, and it appears that by importing just 100 home solar systems we've convinced the Energy Minister to order another 3,000 units as part of a broader market test. It is far too early to say whether Angola will see the type of micro-grid solar explosion that is sweeping East Africa, but it's heartening to know that a country with a traditional mono-economy of oil and gas is investigating these kinds of alternatives. Our partners at organizations like SolarAid and Elephant Energy have been eyeing Angola for years, perhaps our devil-may-care effort will remove the mystique and enable them to come in equipped for success.

These last two weeks were a blur of climbing rocks, spontaneous dance battles with the locals, and late night debates about the efficacy and approaches of bridging the energy gap. There were ups and downs, setbacks, and triumphs. Just like everywhere in the world we learned that at its most basic level Angola is full of good, decent people who see and strive for a better future for their country; except these people are starting the race 10 meters back and without the starting blocks available to many of us. While our impact may be minor in scale, we at the Honnold Foundation believe that only by refusing to accept current realities can we bridge those gaps. More than anything, we hope that you believe the same thing, too.

Huge thanks to partners The North Face, VICE Sports, and Goal Zero for believing in and supporting this trip.

Be sure to tune in to VICE Sports this fall for the feature on Alex, Stacy, and the Honnold Foundation's trip to Angola.

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A New Partnership with Northern Navajo Solar Entrepreneurs

An estimated 18,000 homes on the Navajo Nation in the four corners region of the United States lack access to electricity. Many elders and families use dangerous and polluting kerosene and propane lanterns for light in their homes, trapping in harmful fumes and posing serious fire and health risks. Families spend $20–$40 each month on these inefficient fuel sources–a huge price considering that many survive only on $700 each month. Families are paying up to 6% of their income for a light source that is slowly killing them. Since 2010, Elephant Energy has worked to provide energy access for Navajo elders, families and school children through the distribution and sale of affordable and efficient small-scale solar technologies.

This spring the Honnold Foundation is partnering with GoalZero, The North Face, and Clif Bar to expand Elephant’s efforts and initiate a solar entrepreneurs project in the Kayenta Region of the Navajo Nation. Through generous solar product donations from GoalZero, fundraising matching from The North Face, and support from Clif Bar, we’ll be able to help bring Elephant’s proven strategy to a whole new area!

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What are the needs?

Access to solar light is life-changing for the elders and families that receive solar energy systems. For example, Bessie Wilson lives in a small Hogan in Bodaway/Gap Chapter with no running water and an outhouse nearly 50 yards away. Bessie has a young daughter and a 15-year-old son who travels to school over 40 miles away during the week. Prior to receiving a Goal Zero home solar system from Elephant Energy, Bessie and her family used expensive batteries to power a flashlight, or went without light at night. In March 2013, Elephant Energy installed a Goal Zero Escape 150 system in Bessie’s home, and additional lights outside her house and on her outhouse. Now, at night, Bessie can weave Navajo rugs to sell to support her family, and with the ability to study at night, her son has started getting A’s and B’s in school, instead of C’s and D’s.

What does Elephant Energy do?

Entrepreneurs Program
Solar entrepreneurs form the backbone of the Northern Navajo Solar Entrepreneurs Project. Elephant Energy believes that entrepreneurs must “learn by doing,” and as such, entrepreneurs participate in on-location trainings about pricing, marketing, and sales. This training allows entrepreneurs who are attuned to the cultural norms of the area to make informed business decisions. Trained solar entrepreneurs receive small-scale solar products to sell and generate income for their families. This program increases community economic development in the Navajo Nation and increases engagement in business.

Solar Schools Initiative
Through this Initiative, Elephant Energy partners with the Northern Arizona University to develop and teach a “solar schools curriculum” to community schools, and to provide study lamps that kids can check out from the library, just like they would check out a book. Kids can use these lights to study at home, while sharing knowledge about solar technology with their families.

Elder Installation Program
Elephant Energy partners with Community Health Representatives throughout the Navajo Nation to identify the highest risk members of each community. Through this program, Elephant Energy provides supplies to install solar products pro bono into the homes of sick and elderly community members, reducing dependence on costly and dangerous kerosene for light.

What are the impacts?

Elephant Energy’s Northern Navajo Solar Entrepreneurs Project will:

1. Eradicate kerosene use for lighting in the Navajo Nation

2. Establish clean energy technologies as viable and accessible alternatives to grid-based electricity from coal-fired power plants

3. Facilitate rural economic development by creating job opportunities on the Navajo Nation

How can you help?

Donate to help support the Northern Navajo Solar Entrepreneurs Project! Curious what your money will go towards?

$25 loans a solar-powered light and cell phone charger to a solar entrepreneur
$50 provides three solar lights in the home of a Navajo family
$100 eliminates kerosene use in the homes of two Navajo elders
$250 provides a solar system to light an entire home
$500 provides kid-friendly solar products for the Solar Schools Initiative

The North Face will be matching donations up to the first $5,000, after which the Honnold Foundation will match up to an additional $10,000; for a total of $15,000 in matching funds!

Donate Now

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Honnold Foundation On Sacramento's Fox 40

Honnold Foundation founder Alex Honnold dropped by his local news station after the Thanksgiving holiday to talk to reporter Sabrina Rodriquez. During their interview, Alex discussed about how climbing has given him a passion to channel his success toward improving the world and lives of others. The segment also features some great footage of a few of the projects we support. Thanks again to Fox 40 for the opportunity to help inspire others.

Click here for the interview.

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Get2gether Neighborhood Challenge

This summer the Honnold Foundation partnered with the Center for a New American Dream to fund their Get2gether Neighborhood Challenge. Communities from all over the United States submitted video applications for projects to improve their neighborhood within any of the three focus areas: sharing resources, strengthening local economies, and greening communities.

We and the folks at New American Dream were impressed by the initiatives people were undertaking to build local ethos and work towards sustainability. Nine projects from across the US were chosen by the panel, which included guest judge Alex Honnold. They were then provided support and guidance from NAD, along with ioby’s online crowdfunding platform and our matching grant up to $1000.

Here are the winners! Click the name to learn more about each. Get involved if its in your community, or think about starting a project in your area if its not!

NOLA TimeBank Neighborhood Expansion (New Orleans, LA)

Summit County Seed Library (Summit County, CO)

City Share Club (Cambridge, MA)

Asheville Tool Library (Asheville, NC) 

Baxter Community Center’s Garden Lending Library (Grand Rapids, MI)

Chula Vista Community Garden Living Laboratory (San Diego, CA)

Phoenix Tool Shed (Phoenix, AZ)

Local Community Directory (Timonium, MD)

Building Community at the UM Campus Farm (Ann Arbor, MI)