Woburn-based Boston Solar Makes Generous Donation to Frates Family

WOBURN, MA—Woburn-based company Boston Solar has made a generous donation to a family who has given to many despite incredibly adverse circumstances.

Boston Solar donated $60,000 worth of solar technology to the family of Peter Frates who suffers from ALS, CBS Boston reported Thursday. Frates’ condition requires around-the-clock care and technology that has skyrocketed his family’s electric bill. Frates’ father John Frates told CBS Boston that the regimen resembled that of an ICU.

Frates was also the inspiration behind the famous Ice Bucket Challenge, a fundraiser which raised hundreds of millions of dollars for ALS research and awareness. CBS Local’s David Wade reports:

“John said the family’s electric bill has gone from $100 a month to $1,000.

“They were taking a look at the meter and they said they’ve never seen a household with a meter running that quick,” says the elder Frates. “Pete no longer has the ability to control and regulate his own body temperature. So we have to keep it at a certain temperature and humidity, and in doing so, we have to run an awful lot of equipment.”

That’s where Boston Solar comes in, donating a $60,000 solar installation to the family.

“With this system their bill should go from a thousand dollars a month to zero,” says Chris Buchanan from Boston Solar.”

Frates is currently living in Beverly and requires 24-hour nursing.

Be sure to follow Woburn Patch on Facebook!