Mobile Solar Power for Puerto Rico

Hurricane Maria, one of the worst storms on record with 175 mph sustained winds and gusts up to 250 mph, hit over 4 months ago and still 1/3 of the island’s population are without power and have no restoration date in sight. It ripped apart the island’s energy infrastructure, snapped communication towers and telephone poles as well as washing out bridges and damaging homes beyond repair. Many families, schools, businesses and churches are still suffering without power. Please, help us provide these solar powered units to people and institutions who desperately need them.




My name is Marie Acevedo* and I’ve partnered with Steve VanStee, (MSgt, USAF, ret.) and Ed Kelly who own SolarCrateLLC in Edinburg, Virginia. They’ve created GenaCrate, a portable solar generator designed to give you 120 VAC power when and where you need it. It is a silent, stand-alone unit able to provide several hours of power without recharging. Since it is an outdoor unit, it will continuously recharge its batteries during daylight hours. This mobile solar unit is built on a trailer that can be pulled by a vehicle with a hitch. Their smaller unit, the TruckCrate, can be installed in the toolbox of a pickup truck.




These units are made in Virginia, U.S.A., and can be sized and adapted to meet the needs of individuals, families, offices, or businesses. Set-up is easy and can be done by one person with a simple switch that turns the unit on. It runs silently, unlike noisy, fuel-operated generators. Another switch raises and lowers the solar panels as needed. As long as there is light outside (even if it’s cloudy), the unit recharges continuously and generates electricity for hours after the sun goes down, depending on how many items, small appliances, lights, fans, etc. are being powered at one time.

The GenaCrate/TruckCrate units are also helpful at construction sites where electricity may not yet have been returned or installed. Several devices or power tools can be used at the same time using the multiple 110V outlets available on each unit.

This Veteran-owned company and I want to send individual SolarCrate units to Puerto Rico. We have identified where the first one will be delivered, accompanied by Steve. On arrival, he will meet with community leaders to further identify their needs and what size units would benefit them best. The first unit to be delivered is capable of powering necessary, possibly life-saving, devices for a small home.

Delivery includes a 50 ft. cord to run power from the unit to the inside of a structure where lights, fans, refrigerators, etc. can be plugged in. Anchors can also be installed on the unit to tie it down in severe weather. Each unit comes with an operator’s manual in English and Spanish.



We’re asking for $75,000 which includes 3 GenaCrate and 2 TruckCrate units. This includes building, crating, transportation to the port in Jacksonville, FL, and shipping/delivery to Puerto Rico. It also includes travel costs for Steve VanStee, who, with the help of my cousin Miguel Quinones (San German Fire Department), will meet with various community leaders and organizations on site to determine specific needs of others, helping us best plan how to move forward with supplying more units. Our ultimate goal is to send as many solar units as possible.



We need your donor support to deliver power, light and hope to the people of Puerto Rico. Your donation will be greatly appreciated and means more to them, and us, than you may ever know!!




Thank you very much for your generosity, interest, and help so we may bring power to the people of Puerto Rico!

Muchas Gracias por su generocidad y por ayudarnos a traer energia a la gente de Puerto Rico!

*My parents are from San German, Puerto Rico and I grew up every summer going to the town of San German in the southwest of the island. This was an island of paradise. I had a great time with my cousins playing in “el campo” (the countryside) and eating fresh fruits from the trees. I remember my aunt had a tall bamboo pole with a wire hanger taped to one end. We would use the bamboo pole to twist mangoes, guavas, avocados and other fruits from the trees and eat them on the spot. So sweet and delicious! I still have family who live in Puerto Rico. Sadly, the beautiful fruit trees are broken, just like the power poles.

**No matter how much we earn, if there are funds available but not enough for another SolarCrate, we will use the money to help relief efforts in Puerto Rico.