Infrastructure + Impact
Creating Impact Through Infrastructure
Sol Systems develops, constructs, and operates projects to specifically benefit under-resourced communities, as well as those disproportionately impacted by climate change while leveraging best practices to minimize our ecological footprint during construction
Our Infrastructure + Impact Mission
Sol Systems works with our partners, industry, and communities to accelerate an equitable transition to a sustainable energy future.
Infrastructure + Impact
Community Investment
Sol Systems and Google have structured an integrated clean energy investment and procurement strategy to enable 225 MWdc of new solar energy projects and 18 MW of battery storage. The partnership will deploy capital to seed critical investments into community organizations that serve under-resourced and minority communities
Community Investment
FedEx is allocating a portion of the electricity bill credits generated by the project as well as supplemental cash donations, to local nonprofit SOME (So Others Might Eat) to offset the annual electricity costs at two facilities. Sol is matching first-year contributions and committing volunteer hours.
Development Impacts
As part of Washington D.C.’s community solar program, CREF, the energy generated from this project will feed into the District’s electricity grid as a source of solar energy for use by the community at large rather than the facility it sits on directly. With a capacity of 915 kW, it…
Environmental
Solar Farm 2.0 incorporates native seeding throughout the 54 acres of land in which the solar project lies that bring extensive ecological benefits. The 21 different plant types create a natural habitat for a variety of local and migratory birds and beneficial insects, bolstering their populations.
Development Impacts
Approximately 94% of the project’s construction-related waste was recycled or otherwise diverted from landfills through zero-waste construction practices. This process prevented as much as 45 tons of materials from reaching landfills, including the project’s construction packaging, plastics, wood pallets, and other refuse.
Education
Sol Systems worked with students in the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment’s campus wide sustainability minor to access the carbon footprint of Solar Farm 2.0 from start to finish, including hands-on measurement of the onsite carbon levels that occur through soil sequestration.
Community Investment
In parallel to a 500 MW portfolio Sol is developing for Microsoft. Sol Systems and Microsoft will invest at least $50 million for community-led grants and investments that support educational programs, job and career training, habitat restoration, and programs that support access to clean energy and energy efficiency.
Environmental
Projects in the portfolio will be planted with pollinator habitats as well as deploying agrivoltaics where possible in the form of wetlands restoration, onsite crop growth, and other methods that promote thriving ecosystems around our projects.
Community Investment
The Norfolk community solar + storage project is part of NPPD’s SunWise program, a community solar initiative where customers who sign up to obtain a share will receive an electricity bill credit. The credit allows customers to benefit from solar without the upfront cost of building a solar system on…
Environmental
The project incorporates on-site pollinator habitats to support the local ecosystem and local pollinator populations, like bees.
Education
Sol Systems and our counterparties partnered with Northeast Community College’s (NECC) Electrical Construction and Control Program to give students internship experience by working alongside project operators and partners to gain onsite and practical solar experience once the project is operational. Sol Systems is also contributing three scholarships to students in…
So Others Might Eat (SOME) is an interfaith, community-based service organization that exists to help and support residents of our nation’s capital experiencing homelessness and poverty. SOME offers a variety of services, including affordable housing, counseling, substance use disorder treatment, and job training. In addition, SOME helps meet immediate daily needs…
GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic (GRID Mid-Atlantic) based in Washington DC, is non-profit organization that provides no-cost solar installations and solar job training. Through their Solar Works DC Training and Solar Futures Programs, GRID provides group-based job training and education in solar system installation to residents with low incomes. Sol’s partnership will help…
Philadelphia Energy Authority’s Bright Solar Future (BSF) program provides access to solar careers for young people to grow a diverse and more equitable workforce combating climate change. The students, primarily from communities of color, train in solar and battery storage installation, sales, design, and job site safety. Sol’s partnership will help…
Black Owners of Solar Services (BOSS) is a nationwide collaborative of entrepreneurs, financiers, veterans, engineers, contractors, and developers leading actionable solutions for sustained access to equitable opportunities in clean energy. BOSS and Sol will collaborate in the development and implementation of a business-to-business mentorship and sponsorship program that will help connect…
PowerCorps PHL based in Philadelphia, connects young adults and returning citizens to careers through community service as a model to provide education and paid work experience. Sol’s partnership will help PowerCorpsPHL to expand a skills-building program focused on mathematics and construction for the utility industry, increase career exposure opportunities for the…
Groundswell is a Washington D.C.-based, non-profit that builds community power through equitable community solar projects and resilience centers. Sol’s partnership will provide direct assistance to support structural inspection, feasibility studies and applicable hardware updates for the resiliency center that will be built at the non-profit, City of Refuge in Baltimore, MD.…
Key Partnerships
Grid Alternatives Mid-Atlantic
Appalachian Voices
Sustainability Institute of South Carolina
Philadelphia Energy Authority
So Others Might Eat
BOSS (Black Owners of Solar Services)
Climate Access Fund
Rebuilding Together DC-Alexandria
Community Housing Partners
Aiken Electric Cooperative
Groundswell
Gwinnett County Public Schools
KidWind
PowerCorps PH
Roanoke Electric Cooperative
Santee Electric Cooperative
Envisioning an Equitable and Sustainable
Transition to Clean Energy
