First Green Foundation awards two new solar energy grants

MOUNT DORA, Fla. --- The First Green Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization established to promote the environmental mission of First Green Bank in Mount Dora, recently awarded grants worth $1,000 each to Dinesh V. Shah of Eustis and Randy VanBuskirk of Longwood for their projects installing residential solar energy equipment. Kenneth LaRoe, chairman of the First Green Foundation, said Shah is installing a 10 KW solar panel system at his home. VanBuskirk is installing a 7.5 KW solar panel system, also at his home. The grants to Shah and VanBuskirk are the second and third solar energy grants the Foundation has awarded. LaRoe said the Foundation has budgeted $20,000 for alternative energy grants. Shah and VanBuskirk are First Green Bank depositors, LaRoe said. The First Green Foundation awards grants of up to $1,000 for residential solar energy systems and higher amounts for commercial systems, LaRoe explained. Grant applications are available online at FirstGreenBank.com.