The Guadalajara Reporter

‘Tis the season of goodwill: Lake Chapala Society blown away by ‘amazing’ gift

Christmas came early for the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) when solar energy company eSun made the 59-year-old community organization the recipient of its annual charity giveaway.

Earlier in the year LCS had made inquiries to several firms about installing solar panels at its headquarters in Ajijic.

“We realized that we couldn’t afford it,” LCS Executive Director Terry Vidal told the Reporter this week.

But when eSun Solar Energy Solutions’ CEO Jsun Mills swung by the LCS a few weeks ago, Vidal was stunned at what he heard.

“He said they do a charity installation each year and would like to choose us for this year.”

The LCS board didn’t waste any time deliberating this no-brainer.

The next day, a Wednesday, e-Sun installers were on site to put the panels in place.

“It was all finished and up and running by Saturday,” Vidal said.

In all, e-Sun fitted around 45 panels in three locations: on the roof of the Niell James Sala and the library at LCS, and also at the Wilkes Center.

Vidal reckoned the generous donation has a market value of around 35,000 dollars,

“It’s an enormous gift,” Vidal said. “We believe it will basically serve most of our energy needs, including lights, phones, computers, pumps, both here and at the Wilkes Center.

“Our CFE electricity bills are around 80,000 pesos a year which we pay in three separate bills. We estimate that we’ll have a 90-percent reduction in energy costs as a result of this gift.”

Previous eSun charity projects include solar systems for three orphanages: Love in Action in Chapala, Hope House in Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos and Manos de Amor in Bucerias. They are also starting work on a project for the Biblioteca los Mangos, a community library in Puerto Vallarta.

“It’s our way of giving back and saying thanks,” said Mills. “It will help reduce LCS’ operating costs so the organization will have more money to spend on its education programs and other worthwhile work for the community.   It’s a gift that keeps on giving year after year after year. It’s good for the environment and I believe it creates good karma.”

After starting out in Chapala-Ajijic area five years ago, eSun is now one of Mexico’s most progressive solar energy firms, and Lakeside “one of the solar capitals of Mexico,” according to Mills. The company has five offices based in Ajijic, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.

Vidal said LCS is “extremely grateful” for the gift.

“It’s just amazing,” he said. “The (electricity) meter is now going backwards.”