ABOUT GROUNDSWELL
Groundswell builds community power to increase local resilience for everyone and cut electricity bills in half for our neighbors who need savings the most. We’re on track to deliver more than $29 million in annual energy savings to 36,000 households and deploy more than 40 resilience hub projects across 12 states by 2030.
Community Development with Clean Energy.
We use community solar, resilience hubs, and residential energy efficiency to preserve affordable housing, strengthen the grid, and support local economic development.
Leveraging Data and Ethical AI to Scale Results.
We connect people with projects through our data platform to deliver sustainable, measurable results.
People-Focused and Place-Based.
Founded in 2009, Groundswell joyfully serves rural, small-town, and urban communities in the Heartland, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast with programs tailored to local priorities and supported by governance structures that keep us accountable to the people we serve.
From Demonstration to Transformation.
We deliver tangible projects that build momentum towards operationally sustainable programs that deliver bill savings and improved resilience.
OUR IMPACT/WHERE WE WORK
Groundswell by the Numbers
7,800
Households
Served directly through Groundswell programs.
$3.9M
Savings
Annual clean energy savings realized by participating households.
$1.04M
Invested
Directly into income-qualified households through home repairs and energy efficiency upgrades.
13 Resilience
Hubs
Constructed or in development in 3 states.
OUR PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES
Community Resilience Hubs
Energy Efficiency with SOUL
Southeast Rural Power
Groundswell’s Southeast Rural Power program is a commitment to energy affordability and community resilience in rural America. By partnering with local utilities, we’re building resilience hubs, community solar, energy-efficient home upgrades, workforce training, and small business support, investing in stronger, more self-reliant communities.
Community Solar
SolMate Data Platform
SolMate is Groundswell’s smart, easy-to-use platform that helps connect families to energy savings—fast. Built to support community energy programs, SolMate uses AI to cut through red tape, simplify enrollment, and make sure savings reach the people who need them most.
Rural Renaissance Roadshow
Groundswell’s Rural Renaissance Roadshow brings rural leaders together to spark ideas, build partnerships, and bring real resources home. It’s where communities connect, learn, and take action, turning inspiration into stronger, more resilient local futures.
BUILDING COMMUNITY POWER, TODAY & TOMORROW
Serving rural, small-town, and urban communities across 12 states in the Heartland, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast.
Heartland
Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
Newsletter
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LATEST NEWS & HIGHLIGHTS
Groundswell Issues RFP for Solar Developers to Expand Community Solar Across the Southeast
Groundswell, a nonprofit that builds community power, has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking experienced solar developers to advance the Southeast Rural Power, Solar for All program. This initiative will bring new community solar and battery storage projects to rural communities across Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Groundswell’s SOUL Program Hits 100th Home—Lanett Resident Celebrates a More Resilient Future
For lifelong Lanett resident Cynthia Lloyd, it all began with a leak in her roof. Over time, multiple promises from neighbors and contractors to repair that leak fell through, leading to a larger leak and escalating concerns within her home. Just when she was on the verge of giving up, she discovered Groundswell’s Save On Utilities Long-term (SOUL) program...
Improving Energy Affordability for Households in the Mid-Atlantic
Naomi Ryan’s husband depends on life-saving medical equipment at home. When their electricity bills skyrocketed beyond what they could afford, losing power wasn’t just an inconvenience—it was life-threatening.
Preregistration Now Open: 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow in Opelika, AL
Preregistration is now open for the Rural Renaissance Roadshow in Opelika, Alabama, happening November 10–12! This two-and-a-half-day gathering will bring together rural leaders, project funders, and innovators working at the intersection of clean energy, resilience, and rural investment.
Restoring Resilience: How Groundswell Helped Jason Wade Stay Safe at Home
For Jason Wade, a resident of West Point, Georgia, home has always been a place of resilience and strength. But over time, the very space that provided him comfort became a challenge. Having used a wheelchair for more than 25 years, Wade faced growing obstacles—unstable flooring that posed a fall risk and a bathroom setup that made everyday tasks difficult.