A family in Plano that received a house through Habitat for Humanity last year has received solar panels as part of a partnership the city struck with the non-profit, Solar United Neighbors.
Abullah Abed moved to the U.S. with his wife and daughter in 2015 and moved into the house last year after partnering with Habitat for Humanity. Two years ago, his wife gave birth to their son.
"Prices are going up and up. Most people, they cannot afford to buy a house, so it's a good thing. I'm really happy with what they are doing," Abed says.
Habitat for Humanity provides classes for families before they are deemed eligible to buy a home through the organization. Classes include topics like budgeting and home maintenance.
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Families pay a mortgage and property tax.
This week, Solar United Neighbors and Plano Solar Co-op installed panels at the family's home.
"The house will not look bad. You will produce clean energy, and you will save money," Abed says. "The most important thing is you will save money."
Plano launched Solar Co-op earlier this year. The program now has 146 members but has since closed to new members. People can join a waiting list HERE.
Abed worked as an interpreter and instructor for the US Army in Afghanistan. He says he worried militants might target his family because he spent nine years working for the United States, so they moved to the U.S. in 2015.
"I was hoping for a better future for the country, and all this money has been spent on the government, the people and the infrastructure, but suddenly, in one night, everything collapsed," Abed says. "We were not expecting this at all. No one was expecting this."
Abed says his family still lives in Afghanistan, and his father was working security at the U.S. embassy, which is now closed. Abed says his father is waiting for a special immigrant visa, but he has had to stay on the run.
Abed says he visited three months ago.
"I saw the situation, and how it was getting worse and worse, day by day. When I came back here, maybe less than a month, seeing the situation collapse and, finally, the government collapsed as well," he says. "It's really tough to watch what's happening over there to family and friends, and you cannot do anything about it."
Abed says the work with Habitat for Humanity and Solar United Neighbors is helping his family build a life in the U.S.
"To be honest with you, we're still not fully adjusted," he says, laughing. "It takes a while. This is our first home. We were living in a two bedroom apartment, and now it's four bedrooms."
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