Meet our partners | Groundswell

Programs

National Community Solar Partnership

Groundswell is one of the original participating organizations in the US Department of Energy’s National Community Solar Partnership, a voluntary network of more than 300 organizations focused on sharing ideas and resources to advance and accelerate community solar services nationwide. Groundswell’s leadership of the LIFT project is highlighted through NCSP, and our SharePower community solar program was recognized by NCSP for delivering meaningful benefits through greater household savings for low-and-moderate income households.
Solar Energy Innovation Network

The Solar Energy Innovation Network is a collaborative research program led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. An innovative program design brings together teams of stakeholders from across the United States—including utilities, state and local governments, nonprofits, innovative companies, and electric system operators. With the support of technical experts from national laboratories and other research institutions, these teams work to implement innovative applications of solar and distributed energy resources (DERs) in their unique locations and contexts. The solutions developed by the teams are demonstrated and validated in real-world contexts, making them ready for replication and scale. Groundswell leads the “Breaking Barriers” team in SEIN, phase 2.

Government Grants, Contracts, and Awards

DC Department of Energy and Environment

DOEE's mission is to improve the quality of life for the residents and natural inhabitants of the nation’s capital by protecting and restoring the environment, conserving our natural resources, mitigating pollution, increasing access to clean and renewable energy, and educating the public on ways to secure a sustainable future. The agency’s core responsibilities include, but are not limited to, enforcing environmental regulations; monitoring and assessing environmental risks; developing energy and environmental policies; issuing permits; and providing residents and local businesses with funding, technical assistance, and information on initiatives designed to ensure a more resilient and sustainable city.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

NREL advances the science and engineering of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies and provides the knowledge to integrate and optimize energy systems. Groundswell leads one of eight collaborative teams supported by NREL’s Solar Energy Innovation Network (SEIN). SEIN supports teams across the United States that are pursuing novel applications of solar and other distributed energy resources by providing critical technical expertise and facilitated stakeholder engagement. This support gives the teams the wide range of tools necessary to realize their innovations in real-world contexts.

Teams are composed of diverse stakeholders to ensure all perspectives are heard, key barriers are identified, and the resulting solutions are robust and ready for replication in other contexts. The Innovation Network is a collaborative research effort led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

NYSERDA offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and support to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. A public benefit corporation, NYSERDA has been advancing energy solutions and working to protect the environment since 1975.
Maryland Energy Administration

The Maryland Energy Administration’s mission is to promote affordable, reliable and cleaner energy that benefits all Marylanders. Our programs and policies help lower energy bills, support business energy upgrades, support a cleaner environment and promote energy independence for Maryland.
Office of Sustainability, City of Baltimore

Groundswell is proud to partner with the Baltimore Office of Sustainability whose sustainability agenda focuses on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and social equity. The Baltimore Office of Sustainability actively works to address the challenges of population growth, climate change, and aging infrastructures to advance Baltimore as a dynamic city.
US Department of Energy

The mission of the Energy Department is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. Groundswell is currently supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Solar Energy Technologies Office Award Number DE-EE0008567 (LIFT).

Solar Construction and Resilience

A.F. Mensah

A.F. Mensah is a distributed solar and storage technology company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Hamilton, NJ. It uses battery storage and software controls to increase the value of Solar PV and enhance distribution grid operations. Its project portfolio includes utility-owned and third-party-owned solar + storage systems, with projects in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Ohio.
SunCatch Energy

The mission of SunCatch Energy LLC is to design and safely build solar energy systems that generate clean power and drive local economic development. Bradford Boston founded SunCatch Energy LLC in 2016 with the sole mission of designing and building solar systems; service offerings now include consulting, design, and construction of solar, resiliency (microgrid), and efficiency systems. Boston is a fourth-generation Electrical Contractor and licensed electrician and general builder with more than 30 years of electrical experience and 10 years in the solar industry.
Supreme Solutions

Supreme Solutions Inc. is a commercial and government contractor, assisting companies with information technology, acquisition support, engineering services, and program management. Supreme Solutions Inc., is based in Alexandria, Virginia. Possessing more than 25 years of experience working with executives and leadership for many businesses and agencies, Supreme Solutions offers a thorough knowledge of acquisition management, engineering services, information technology, and program management services.

Project Finance

The Montgomery County Green Bank

The Montgomery County Green Bank is a publicly-chartered nonprofit dedicated to accelerating affordable energy efficiency and clean energy investment in Montgomery County, MD. It partners with the private sector to build a more diverse, equitable and inclusively prosperous, resilient, sustainable, and healthy community. Its work supports Montgomery County’s goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Groundswell and the Montgomery County Green Bank are partnering to deliver a SharePower community solar project at Paddington Square Apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland.
SunLight General Capital

SunLight General Capital develops, finances, owns, and operates solar energy projects with a focus on the Northeast, helping to promote access to clean, affordable renewable energy. It sells electricity to its clients, usually municipal entities or qualifying commercial sites, via long-term purchase contracts. The team has worked together since 2009 and has developed over 130 sites in an aggregate amount over 50 MW. Groundswell and SunLight General Capital have partnered to deliver multiple equitable community and behind-the-meter solar projects in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Illinois.
Sustainable Capital Advisors

Sustainable Capital Advisors is a strategy consulting and financial advisory firm serving the sustainable infrastructure industry. Its name – Sustainable Capital Advisors – was chosen to clearly state the firm’s commitment and focus on providing capital markets solutions to the sustainable infrastructure industry.

SCA’s logo was designed to invoke the elements of sustainable development (environment, economy, and society) through the overlapping of three circles. The intersection of all three circles is often referred to as “sustainability”, and it is in this area where SCA acts as a catalyst through its work.

Memberships

CCSA

The Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) represents businesses and non-profits working to expand customer choice and access to solar for all American households and businesses through community solar. Through our active partnership, Groundswell helps support the expansion of community solar policies and projects nationwide.
MDV-SEIA

MDV-SEIA delivers on policy formation, advocacy, market representation, networking, education, and more to members representing over 10,000 solar jobs across Maryland, the District of Columbia, Delaware and Virginia.

Funders & Supporters

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation

Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management, and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 66 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,300 retail financial centers, including approximately 2,700 lending centers, 2,600 financial centers with a Consumer Investment Financial Solutions Advisor and approximately 2,400 business centers; approximately 17,000 ATMs; and award-winning digital banking with approximately 39 million active users, including approximately 31 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Abell Foundation

The Abell Foundation is committed to improving health, economic, and educational outcomes in Baltimore City so that all people can thrive.
Bellwether Foundation

The Bellwether Foundation is a charitable foundation located in St. Louis, Missouri. The mission of The Bellwether Foundation is to improve the quality of life for all people in St. Louis by supporting innovative programs that make a positive impact for present and future generations.
Builders Initiative

Builders Initiative invests in and collaborates with non-profits, businesses, and others working towards sustainable solutions to societal and environmental challenges.
EarthShare

EarthShare’s mission is to accelerate the pace of positive environmental change by unleashing the collaborative power of motivated businesses and passionate people in support of our vital network of member organizations.
JPB Foundation

JPB’s mission is to advance opportunity in the United States through transformational initiatives that empower those living in poverty, enrich and sustain our environment, and enable pioneering medical research.
Kresge Foundation

The Kresge Foundation works to expand opportunities in America’s cities through grantmaking and social investing.
The MacArthur Foundation

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur is placing a few big bets that truly significant progress is possible on some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, decreasing nuclear risk, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., and reducing corruption in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago.
Movement Strategy Center

Since 2001, the Movement Strategy Center has challenged systemic racism by providing space for reflection, experimentation, incubation, and fiscal sponsor services to BIPOC, women, and LGBTQIA+ Transformative Movement leaders tackling social justice causes that center on the interconnected issues of racial, gender, and environmental inequity. They insist on a radical shift in philanthropy that transforms giving practices in support of a culture of equity and diversity.
Rural Climate Partnership

Heartland Fund’s Rural Climate Partnership aims to leverage climate investments in small towns and rural communities, to spur sustainable job development that will allow communities to protect what they love about the places where they live, and build communities strong enough for young people to want to make homes there. Through grantmaking, technical assistance, policy advocacy, communications, and organizing, the Rural Climate Partnership will address climate change through a place-based, sustainable job, and economic development strategy.
SolSystems

Sol Systems is a leading, national solar energy firm with an established reputation for integrity and reliability across its distinct and complementary businesses. Sol works together with customers and partners to ensure a better, more just energy transition.
The Solutions Project

The Solutions Project envisions a world that is driven by purpose. One that combines and amplifies radical ideas and hard work from those whose voices typically might go unheard. A world where equity — for women, Black people, Indigenous communities, people of color; everyone — is a priority.
Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets. We proudly serve one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and we are a leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. Wells Fargo provides a diversified set of banking, investment, and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 47 on Fortune’s 2023 rankings of America’s largest companies. In the communities we serve, the Company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy.
Working Power

Working Power centers climate justice by co-developing clean energy projects with frontline organizations. We act as a bridge between community partners and funders, co-designing projects that catalyze economic development through community ownership and support climate justice by democratizing clean energy. Parent company Urban Ingenuity (UI) has overseen, advised, and directly invested $150M resulting in 18MW of clean energy and $21M in community benefits. Today, Working Power has over a dozen community co-owned projects in development across the United States.