New Solar Installation Helps Power Programs for Youth and Families in Spring Valley 

Spring Valley, Calif. (Jan.30, 2026) -- A new solar installation has been completed at San Diego Youth Services’ Spring Valley Campus, made possible with support from Empowered by Light and First Solar.   

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SDYS will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 30 at 11:30 a.m. to recognize the partners who helped bring the project to the campus. By going solar, San Diego Youth Services will lower utility costs and environmental impact and put those savings back into programs and facilities.

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San Diego Youth Services supports more than 16,000 young people each year by providing safe shelter, warm meals, mental health care, foster placements, housing and career services, including the only emergency shelter in San Diego for youth ages 12 to 17. 

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The project was secured by Empowered by Light, a nonprofit organization that helps community-based groups develop renewable energy projects. Empowered by Light also provided a $30,000 donation to support the solar and energy storage (batteries) system. The solar panels were donated by First Solar.

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“Empowered by Light focuses on supporting some of the most vulnerable groups of people, so we were thrilled to be able to help San Diego Youth Services transition to reliable, renewable energy so they can provide more services to area youth who are at risk of becoming homeless,” said Moira Hanes, Executive Director of Empowered by Light.

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The solar installation is part of broader efforts to make the Spring Valley Campus more self-sustaining and provide services that help young people become independent. 

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The Spring Valley campus is home to several key programs, such as workforce development initiatives, including a youth run coffee shop, an independent living skills program for foster youth and comprehensive mental health services.

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“This project helps us stretch our resources and keep our focus on the people we serve,” said San Diego Youth Services CEO Jonathan Castillo. “We appreciate the support from Empowered by Light and First Solar that made this possible.”

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The campus includes a food garden that produces about 1,000 pounds of fresh food each year for youth and families, a coffee shop and food-services program operated by youth that provides job training and work experience, along with mental health services for children, teens and young adults and independent living skills for former foster youth. 

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