Free Solo’s Alex Honnold Is an Unexpected Solar Power Champion

The idea sprouted from Honnold’s desire to offset his own travel emissions. But he knew that in order to gain traction and funding, his sustainability efforts would need wider impact. “Nobody cares about the environment unless their basic needs are met," he says. "So if you're trying to protect the environment in a broad sense without protecting or improving the lives of human populations, you're facing an uphill battle."Today, at least 600 million people live without access to electricity. Solar power could hugely improve their lives, with the added benefit of reducing the global reliance on fossil fuels. HF focuses on solar projects that sit at the intersection of climate, equity, and human impact, with grant recipients typically receiving between $50,000 and $150,000. More than 1,200 organizations applied in 2026—a far cry from Honnold's early days of researching and funding projects on his own. Recent recipients include the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, which will install solar lighting and power to protect against illegal fishing and mangrove destruction; Integrated Health Outreach in Antigua and Barbuda, which will power a female-led beekeeping and honey-processing facil...