Standard Solar Acquires Community Solar Project from New Columbia Solar; Bolsters Ownership Portfolio in Maryland

Standard Solar, a leader in the ownership, operation, funding and development of commercial and community solar assets, announced it has acquired a community solar project at FCP’s Holly Spring Meadows apartment community in Forestville, Md. from New Columbia Solar. The 800-kilowatt (kW) carport array and a 921-kW rooftop array project, along with 24 other projects owned by Standard Solar in the state, will help Maryland achieve its Renewable Portfolio Standard.

The carport and rooftop arrays, located at Holly Spring Meadows, a 224-apartment unit community, will generate a combined 2,120-megawatt hours of clean energy annually, which is equivalent to offsetting the carbon emissions of 1.6 million pounds of coal, charging 182 million smartphones for a year or the annual electricity use of nearly 300 homes. Approximately 50 percent of the energy produced on-site will be allocated to individuals of low- to moderate-income households.

“It means a lot when you acquire a project in your backyard that not only promotes community involvement, fostering a sense of unity, but also brings the benefits of solar power to a broader audience, and that will also help your home state reach its renewable energy goals,” said Mike Streams, Chief Development Officer for Standard Solar. “The Holly Spring Meadows solar project will help offset electricity costs for residents and moves Maryland closer to meeting its goal of generating 50 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. It also advances the state toward meeting the 14.5 percent carve-out for solar by 2028.”

Maryland is at the forefront of embracing the value of community solar, demonstrating a significant commitment to renewable energy and empowering its residents. The Holly Spring Meadows community solar project stands as a great example of how solar energy can truly make a difference. By allowing individuals to subscribe to a shared solar array, this project enables access to clean and affordable energy for those who may not have the resources or suitable rooftops for installing solar panels. Subscriptions are being managed by Arcadia. Information on subscriptions can be found here.

“This was an extremely challenging project, and I am very proud of New Columbia Solar’s engineering and development team for bringing this difficult project to life,” said Michael Healy, Chief Executive Officer, New Columbia Solar. “This certainly cements NCS as one of the preeminent developers in Prince George’s County. I want to thank County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and her staff for working with the NCS team to streamline solar energy permitting in the county, which made this system possible and will enable NCS to continue to invest in solar energy systems throughout Prince George’s. I also want to thank FCP for being a great partner throughout this development process; We are proud to provide clean energy to more than 275 families through the Community Solar Program while furthering Prince George’s County’s renewable energy goals.”

“In 2019, FCP began exploring renewable energy solutions that would provide greener homes and improve returns for our investors,” said FCP’s Dara Vaziri. “After two years of extensive due diligence, we partnered with New Columbia Solar for FCP’s first solar deal ever. New Columbia Solar has done a great job building an approximate 1.6-megawatt system that will power approximately 275 homes annually.”

“We’re thrilled to be a part of Maryland’s first community solar carport alongside New Columbia Solar, Standard Solar and Holly Spring Meadows. Not only does this project leverage the built environment to harness clean solar power, it will also deliver 50% of its output to low-to-moderate income households and affordable housing properties, helping out households for whom energy costs are a significant burden,” said Joel Gamoran, Vice President and General Manager of Energy Services at Arcadia.

The Holly Spring Meadows project is complete and operating. Last weekend, the project’s partners, along with other participants, including Director Andrea Crooms, Prince George’s County Government - Department of Environment, came together to commemorate its success and organize a special community event to celebrate its completion. The occasion featured various activities, including the distribution of back-to-school backpacks and gift cards for energy use.

“FCP is thrilled to be partnering with Standard Solar in our first solar array at Holly Spring Meadows,” said FCP’s Lollie Loflin. “This community solar project supports FCP’s robust energy savings strategies and reduces the overall carbon footprint of the community. Along with the exciting news on our energy strategies, we are thrilled to send our youngest residents off to school this year with new backpacks stuffed with school supplies!”

Arcadia | arcadia.com

FCP | www.fcpdc.com

New Columbia Solar | http://www.newcolumbiasolar.com  

Standard Solar | standardsolar.com