Across the country, communities are beginning to see the benefits of new clean energy projects and initiatives. This growth has the potential to address energy inequity and energy impoverishment in historically underserved communities. However, to achieve the kind of transformative change that addresses community needs at their source, we must listen to individuals in those communities and take their words to heart.
This month, Groundswell joined partners and community members to celebrate what we can achieve together when we listen to community voices. Thanks to guidance and support from community leaders, community solar arrays at Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, and Christ for Everyone Ministries in Chicago Heights, Illinois, have been energized. These solar arrays will each generate about $500 a year in electricity bill savings for each of the more than 173 low to moderate-income households served by the two projects.
Additionally, we celebrated Pride and recognized its ties to energy equity. The intersectionality of identity, equality, and opportunity is something we believe in and uplift through our work year-round.
The importance of community partnerships when addressing energy equity could clearly be heard through the voices of everyone in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church last week. The new solar project will provide 73 local, income-qualified households with up to $500 a year in clean energy savings through DC Solar for All. This electricity bill savings opportunity is part of the church’s efforts to serve its community, and Sargent Memorial’s pastor, the Rev. Juan Guthrie talked about how the church had first looked to solar as a way to offset its energy bills but was thrilled to discover a way to care for the surrounding community, using a canopy array that has already become one of the most popular parking areas for church events.
The community partnerships that made it possible for the community solar array at Sargent Memorial to thoughtfully meet community needs were further highlighted through comments from representatives from the Office of the People's Counsel of DC, SunCatch Energy, Working Power, Sunlight General, and the DC Sustainable Energy Utility.
Groundswell was also honored to celebrate the completion of a community solar array with Christ For Everyone Ministries. The project was made possible by community input and support, so we felt the most appropriate way to celebrate its energization was to sit down with members of the church’s congregation to answer questions and provide application assistance during a signup event at the church. This community solar installation is expected to provide clean energy savings to more than 100 income-qualified households and create clean energy career opportunities within the Chicago Heights community, improving local energy equity through Illinois Solar for All.
Energy equity was likewise threaded through during Groundswell Director of Subscriber Services Rashad Williams’s comments during Pride in Power: Live From Stonewall event hosted by Edison Energy. The panel of all LGBTQ+ experts discussed the queering of environmental justice and building a community of LGBTQ+ energy professionals to address the unique barriers and challenges faced by the community.
Additionally, Groundswell’s Vice President of Labs and Data Science Elvis Moleka and Operations Program Manager Sara Owre highlighted tools available to develop equitable community solar at the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC) conference in California, and their presentation on the groundbreaking LIFT Solar Toolkit drew the attention of many attendees.
We are thankful to our dynamic team for their continued dedication to our mission, and our partners for their support in getting us across the finish line. We are also thankful for supporters like you who care deeply about clean energy that serves communities.
Thank you for helping us build community power.