Galveston Bay Foundation Celebrates Clean Energy Milestone with Green Mountain Energy Sun Club | $334,430 grant supports rooftop solar and battery installation at The Gessner Center
KEMAH, Texas — September 25, 2026 — Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) celebrated a major milestone in its commitment to a more sustainable and resilient future for Galveston Bay. With support from a $334,430 sustainability grant from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club®, GBF completed a rooftop solar array and battery installation at The Gessner Center.
GBF and Green Mountain Energy Sun Club celebrated the completion of the project Tuesday with a “Flip the Switch” celebration at The Gessner Center, GBF’s new 30-acre headquarters in Kemah. The event recognized the partnership and the role the project will play in helping power the center while advancing GBF’s mission to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come.
The Sun Club grant provided $173,430 toward the rooftop solar array and $161,000 toward the battery installation. The solar array is expected to generate approximately 102,028 kilowatt-hours of clean energy each year, helping reduce the center’s reliance on conventional electricity and the cost of operating the facility.
Together, the solar and battery systems are projected to save approximately $15,304 in annual electricity costs—savings that can be reinvested in GBF’s conservation and education programs. That annual savings is equivalent to the cost of providing environmental education programming for approximately 500 Title I students.
“This grant allows The Gessner Center to create 105% of the energy it will use on an annual basis. Not only does it add to our sustainability goals for the building, it will also save us money for the next 25 years of operation of the building. It’s a true win/win,” said Bob Stokes, Executive Director and President of Galveston Bay Foundation.
The clean energy installation is one of several sustainable features incorporated into The Gessner Center, which was designed to demonstrate how buildings can work in harmony with the coastal environment. The facility incorporates solar energy, battery storage, geothermal heating and cooling, rainwater collection, bioswales, natural ponds and a living shoreline, among other sustainable design elements.
Sustainability at The Gessner Center extends beyond the building itself. The facility was designed as a place where students, community members, and visitors can learn about Galveston Bay and experience conservation in action.
“We believe renewable energy can do more than power a building. It can strengthen the organizations that serve our communities,” said Zac Lowder, Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. “We’re proud to partner with the Galveston Bay Foundation to bring renewable energy to its facility, helping the organization dedicate more resources to education, conservation and the protection of Galveston Bay.”
The partnership between GBF and Green Mountain Energy Sun Club demonstrates how investments in clean energy can support both environmental sustainability and community education. By reducing the long-term cost of powering The Gessner Center, the project helps GBF direct more resources toward protecting and restoring Galveston Bay.
The Gessner Center serves as the foundation’s headquarters and a hub for GBF’s work to protect the Bay through habitat restoration, water protection, land conservation, education, advocacy and research. The 30-acre property also provides opportunities for visitors to explore coastal habitats and learn more about the ecosystems that make Galveston Bay vital to the region.
About Galveston Bay Foundation
Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) is dedicated to preserving and protecting Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come. Since 1987, GBF has worked to protect and improve the Bay through habitat restoration, water protection, land conservation, education, advocacy, and research. Learn more at www.galvbay.org.
About Green Mountain Energy Sun Club
Green Mountain Energy’s mission is to inspire hope and motivate action through the use of clean energy, and to advance sustainable communities through the work of Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $16 million for 174 projects across Texas and the Northeast. Sun Club collaborates with nonprofit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship. To learn more about Green Mountain Energy and Sun Club or to apply for a Sun Club grant, visit greenmountain.com/sunclub.
Media Contact
Kimberly Meza | kmeza@galvbay.org | 281-923-3278
Comments