A first-of-its-kind community solar installation on the rooftops of the Paddington Square Apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland, now provides the benefits of locally generated clean energy to Montgomery County households. This 273 kW community solar array produces solar electricity for 91 local households, including 28 Empowered (income-qualified) households, who receive up to $500 a year in clean energy savings per year per household.
As the developer and subscriber management provider, Groundswell used its innovative SharePower™ platform to make Community Solar at Paddington Square Montgomery County's first community solar project built to serve low and moderate-income households. With careful design planning and coordination between Groundswell and the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission HOC, the HOC will be able to make necessary building improvements as needed without having to alter or remove the solar array. The recent developments in solar technology and the financing options that Groundswell offers means that HOC's can help improve energy equity without sacrificing the flexibility they need to maintain their buildings. This project was also designed to serve as a replicable model for delivering SharePower™ in partnership with other housing authorities.
This solar installation is possible thanks to the committed leadership at the HOC, Montgomery County Green Bank, and Groundswell in partnership with SunLight General Capital. SunCatch Energy — a local, Black-owned solar energy contractor focused on extending training opportunities to under-employed communities — oversaw engineering, procurement, and construction for this project.
SunLight General Capital — a woman-owned solar investment firm — financed this solar project. The Montgomery County Green Bank was also a financing partner on the project, providing local capital in support of the local clean energy, local social impact, and local job creation made possible by this project.
