A generous grant awarded to the Land Trust from the Peter A. and Vernice H. Gasser Foundation recently funded a new solar system at Archer Taylor Preserve that will not only lead to electricity cost savings, but help continue funding preserve restoration projects with that savings.

The caretaker house at Archer Taylor now has eleven solar panels thanks to the $15,000 grant. Installed in March, the system allows the Land Trust to produce power locally and sustainably without generating greenhouse gases.

In addition to helping the Land Trust transition to solar energy at the caretaker house, the foundation’s generous grant will result in significant savings. According to the solar company’s projections, the panels will save an estimated $15,000 in lower electric bills over the next 15 years.

In turn, these cost savings for the Land Trust can help pay for stewardship projects at Archer Taylor Preserve like trail management, wildfire restoration and invasive plant removal.

This is the second grant for solar panels to the Land Trust from the Gasser Foundation. In 2015, the foundation awarded $40,000 for a solar system at the caretaker house at Wantrup Preserve, leading to a 95% reduction in electric costs there.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Gasser Foundation for its support of the Land Trust as well as the invaluable support it provides for the Napa community.