Founded in 1977, San Jerardo Cooperative is a 64-home housing cooperative in Salinas, California, dedicated to providing safe, affordable homeownership and self-managed community infrastructure for farmworkers and low-income families. San Jerardo recently installed a new 271 kW solar photovoltaic system in partnership with CollectiveSun to help control rising overhead costs and protect resident families from unpredictable utility rate hikes.
Rosa Carrillo Orozco, General Manager at San Jerardo Cooperative, spoke with CollectiveSun about the community’s rich history, their sustainability efforts, and how solar energy will help fund vital neighborhood improvements.
This loan was made possible by the generous participation of the BQuest Foundation.
All images are courtesy of Mynt Systems.
Please tell us about your mission, including the programs and services you provide
San Jerardo Cooperative is a 64-home housing cooperative located southeast of Salinas, California that was founded in 1977 by farmworker families seeking permanent housing. Rather than offering traditional public services, we provide ultra-affordable, self-managed housing and maintain our own essential infrastructure—including our own wastewater treatment facility—for our resident-owners.
Who benefits from your programs and services?
We serve approximately 265 low-income residents, including active agricultural workers, multi-generational families, and our founding members.
Tell us about your solar project
The cooperative worked with Mynt Systems to install a 271 kW solar photovoltaic system designed to cover roughly 90% of our energy demand across common areas and submetered household units. The system began operation in April 2026.
What sparked your organization’s interest in solar energy?
With PG&E electricity bills averaging $13,000 per month, rising utility rates were placing a heavy burden on our community. Going solar provided a clear path to control overhead costs and keep monthly expenses predictable for our residents.
Do you have other sustainability initiatives?
Because we are surrounded by agricultural fields, we actively advocate for regional groundwater protection and nitrogen reduction, while managing our own wastewater treatment plant to keep the community safe and sustainable.
How will you use the savings generated by going solar to further support your mission?
We will reinvest our utility savings directly into vital neighborhood infrastructure projects—such as repaving aging roads and repairing potholes—as well as creating green spaces with trees and gazebos for our families. Once our seven-year loan is paid off, all energy production value will directly lower costs for our residents.
Why did you choose to work with CollectiveSun, and how was the experience?
CollectiveSun offered a specialized loan program that didn’t require placing our community property as collateral, which alleviated our residents’ primary concern about taking on debt.
“Working with CollectiveSun was a great experience—they were completely upfront and transparent. They weren’t just executing a project; they genuinely cared about understanding our community’s needs and guided us every step of the way.”
— Rosa Carrillo Orozco, General Manager, San Jerardo Cooperative
How would someone get in touch with your organization to learn more about your services?
Interested community partners can get in touch with us by contacting the San Jerardo Cooperative main office directly by phone at (831) 424-1947.
