College - Author 1
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 1
Construction Management Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Construction Management
Date
6-2025
Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Joseph Cleary, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department
Abstract/Summary
Skip the Grid is an interdisciplinary initiative aimed at supporting the Navajo Nation by providing access to off-grid power to improve quality of life. This year, the Skip the Grid team centered its efforts around the Chinle Unified School District in Chinle, Arizona. This collaborative effort was composed of an interdisciplinary team of California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students, along with industry partners including SOLV Energy, Heart of America, Goal Zero, and Nextracker. Many families in the Navajo Nation still live without access to reliable electricity. Between March 23rd and March 27th, 2025, the Skip the Grid team successfully installed solar panels, battery storage systems, lighting, and refrigeration units in forty homes throughout the Chinle community located in Northeastern Arizona. The project not only addressed pertinent infrastructure needs but also embodied Cal Poly’s motto of “learn by doing”, as students engaged directly in meaningful hands-on work that benefited the Navajo Nation. The Cal Poly team and its counterparts are proud to have made an immediate and lasting impact on the community for the fourth consecutive year, as well as to have been given a rare opportunity to apply our knowledge in real-world conditions and engage in community service.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cmsp/864
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