June marked a significant milestone for South Los Angeles with the first of up to 140 solar rooftop panel installations under a transformative $35 million initiative. This ambitious project aims to convert a 4-square-mile area of South L.A. into a model of sustainability.
The South L.A. EcoLab initiative was launched last year by the South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE-Z). Originally formed in 2014, SLATE-Z brings together a coalition of community nonprofits and government agencies to drive sustainable development.
Over the next five years, the South L.A. EcoLab will not only install solar panels but also introduce an e-bike lending program, construct electric vehicle charging stations, develop a car-sharing program, and plant over 4,000 trees. These programs will be focused within a specific 4-square-mile region of South L.A., bordered by Vernon Avenue to the north, Western Avenue to the west, Central Avenue to the east, and 61st Street to the south.
Funding for the initiative comes from a $35 million grant awarded by the California Strategic Growth Council’s Transformative Climate Communities Program, which will support these efforts through June 2028.
The inaugural solar rooftop panel installation was completed by the Los Angeles affiliate of GRID Alternatives. This Oakland-based nonprofit specializes in solar panel installations and promotes renewable energy in communities heavily impacted by industrial and transportation pollution.
