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Viridian Energy Lights the Way: Connecticut-based Company Brings Solar Power and Security to Albanian Community in Need

Viridian Energy Lights the Way: Connecticut-based Company Brings Solar Power and Security to Albanian Community in Need

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Viridian Energy, a leading provider of affordable, renewable energy, recently announced the completion of the sixth project in the company’s “7 Continents in 7 Years” global sustainability initiative. This year, a team of 37 Independent Viridian Associates and corporate employees donated and installed 33 solar-powered street lights as well as a recreational soccer field, bringing safety and security to the Albanian community of Tufine for years to come. One of the poorest countries in Europe, approximately one quarter of the Albanian population lives below the poverty line (on less than $2 USD a day). In Tufine, homelessness and joblessness are common and residents are vulnerable to crime given the lack of infrastructure.

Working with project partner Experiment Albania, an organization that arranges cultural exchange and community development service projects, as well as solar partner ELAL COM, Viridian voluntourists worked four days to complete the project, including wiring and installing the solar street lights as well as laying cement and astroturf for the soccer field.

“Our ‘7 Continents in 7 Years’ initiative illustrates the tremendous, positive impact we can have not only on the planet, but on the people who are living in communities in need around the world,” said Cami Boehme, Chief Strategy Officer, Viridian Energy. “The light this community received will be an invaluable asset – but even more important than that, we were pleased to work with Albanian’s Minister of Social Welfare to help give the people of Tufine a sense of renewed hope. Something as simple as providing a safe and well-lit gathering place can start a community on a path toward a brighter future and we were honored to help provide that starting point on behalf of all Viridian customers.”

Since 2011, Viridian has completed a major corporate social responsibility (CSR) project on a different continent each year, including reforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest and solar power installations on schools, homes and community centers in Ghana, Indonesia, Fiji and Nicaragua. In addition to its global CSR efforts, Viridian Energy also hosts sustainability events across the company’s U.S. and Australian markets including cleanups, tree plantings and more. To date, Viridian has logged over 14,338 domestic volunteer hours and collected over 111,354 pounds of trash as part of its “Local Change” events.

Albania’s Minister of Social Welfare, Blendi Klosi, appeared with CSO Cami Boehme on Albanian national news, and was in attendance as the solar powered lights went on for the first time in the community.The seventh and final 7C7Y destination will be announced at Viridian’s annual convention, PowerUP! which will be held in Washington D.C. September 30 through October 2, 2016.

Anand Gupta Editor - EQ Int'l Media Network

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