Intuit, the global financial technology platform behind TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks and Mailchimp, recently announced the creation of a solar model for diverse communities to find new career paths and educational opportunities, while helping to reduce carbon emissions in the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.

Debbie Lizt, head of Sustainability at Intuit, stated:

Beyond working toward our climate-positive goal, we’re deeply committed to creating innovative programs that strengthen the communities around us by supporting their pursuits of renewable energy solutions.

Working for communities and the planet

In 2019 Intuit was one of the first in the technology industry to make a climate positive commitment, declaring a goal to reduce 2 million metric tons of CO2e outside of its operational footprint by 2030.

Through partnerships with GRID Alternatives and its Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund, along with Clearloop and Secure Solar Futures, Intuit is creating programs that deliver long-term benefits to diverse communities across the country, ensuring meaningful career paths, financial savings for reduced costs of energy, and job skills development opportunities for students and professionals.

“Our partnerships with local high schools, solar providers, and nonprofits continue to be instrumental in our efforts to create renewable energy programs that offer durable benefits for these communities today and into the future,” added Lizt.

Highlights of the effort

• In partnership with GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit that designs and implements community-first projects that bring solar power and jobs to the people, Intuit is paving the way for Compton, California families to go solar at home. This aligns with Intuit’s commitment to invest in the Los Angeles community and the areas surrounding Intuit Dome, the LA Clippers’ new arena opening in Inglewood in 2024. 
• Intuit has also funded a grant as part of GRID Alternatives’ Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund program, which fosters Indigenous energy sovereignty and expands solar job opportunities in tribal communities across the U.S. The grant was awarded to the Big Pine Paiute Tribe, near Bishop, California, to install solar panels on a community building.
• Since 2021, Intuit has worked with Clearloop, a Nashville-based carbon solutions platform accelerating decarbonization and expanding access to clean energy in American communities where the greatest economic and environmental benefits can be achieved. Intuit’s support helped make possible the construction of a project in Jackson, Tennessee that will reclaim 60 million pounds of CO2 over its lifetime operation, and has since supported 1 megawatt of a new solar project near an Intuit Prosperity Hub in East Tennessee.
• On track for completion in winter 2023, the solar project commissioned by Clearloop will reclaim over 139 million pounds of carbon from the electric grid, provide green power to local institutions, and create workforce development opportunities in the region.

“Working with leading companies such as Intuit is critical toward achieving our vision of a transition to clean energy that includes everyone. Together we can expand access to solar power and green jobs, and build community-powered solutions that advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy,” noted Erica Mackie, chief executive officer and co-founder of GRID Alternatives. 

We’re tackling our climate-positive commitment by bringing renewable energy and meaningful jobs to underserved communities in the US through partnerships with @GRID, @ClearloopUS and Secure Solar Futures.

— Intuit (@Intuit) April 17, 2023

New projects

Intuit also recently launched the Coalfield Solar Fund, a partnership between Intuit, The National Energy and Education Development (NEED), a nonprofit educational organization, and Secure Solar Futures, a provider of on-site clean energy and educational programs for the public K-12, schools and colleges.

The initiative seeks to provide multi-year grants to help bring solar energy, job training, and hands-on apprenticeship opportunities for students in the solar energy industry to communities in Virginia and West Virginia.

“Intuit has a track record, through its Prosperity Hub and sustainability programs, of bringing jobs and climate solutions to underserved communities, where new workforce development opportunities bring economic impact at scale. Their partnership accelerates our ability to bring solar energy, STEM education programs and career opportunities to schools in Virginia and West Virginia. We share Intuit’s vision for creating bold programs that benefit the community in a myriad of ways,” said Ryan McAllister, CEO of Secure Solar Futures. 

Interested schools and universities can apply for the program until April 17, 2023. Applications, webinar details and registration, along with more information about the Coalfield Solar Fund, can be found by clicking here.