Four stores across San Antonio will receive rooftop solar panels. Goodwill's president says this move will allow the nonprofit to serve more people.

Goodwill San Antonio is furthering their sustainability efforts by partnering with Big Sun Solar to install rooftop solar panels at four of its store locations. This initiative capitalizes on direct pay, a program introduced by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and enables the nonprofit organization to request rebates offered by CPS Energy, fostering a greener future while optimizing financial resources. 

“This project aligns with Goodwill San Antonio’s sustainability efforts by helping to reduce our carbon footprint. With the incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act and CPS Energy rebates, the timing was ideal for us to begin our transition to solar energy,” said Carlos Contreras, President & CEO of Goodwill San Antonio. 

The Goodwill San Antonio store locations to receive the solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are Bandera Rd., Blanco North, Gateway near 1604N, and Potranco Rd. Anticipated to be fully operational by the end of March 2024, combined, the 522kW system will generate 784,982 kilowatt hours of solar energy, meeting 100% of each site’s energy needs. The investment in solar PV panels will allow Goodwill to serve more people in the community by saving more than $90,000 annually in energy costs. 

“This represents a great opportunity for Goodwill San Antonio, especially considering the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act and CPS Energy. We are honored to have been chosen for this project,” said Robert Miggins, CEO of Big Sun Solar. To celebrate Goodwill’s leap into renewable energy, the organization hosted a commissioning event at its Blanco North donated goods and retail location on Monday, March 25, with San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, CPS Energy President and CEO Rudy Garza, and other city leaders in attendance. The Goodwill San Antonio solar rooftop project is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to recycling 180 tons of waste. This will be the first wave of installments, as the non-profit looks to add solar panels to more buildings with the operations in the future.

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