New Maryland Venture focuses on building community solar projects in the state.

New Maryland venture working to increase community solar projects

Former Clean Currents President Gary Skulnik teams up with MOM’s Organic Market Founder Scott Nash to launch Neighborhood Sun

Silver Spring, Md. — Building on a Maryland community solar law that takes effect this summer, longtime clean energy entrepreneur Gary Skulnik has teamed with MOM's Organic Market founder Scott Nash on a new venture to bring solar energy to more people, businesses, and organizations.

Called Neighborhood Sun, the Silver Spring-based enterprise is working with businesses, community groups, and others to widen the reach of solar-energy systems. A law passed by the Maryland General Assembly and signed by Gov. Larry Hogan in 2015 established a three-year pilot program for the state's first community-shared solar projects beginning this summer.

“This new program finally brings solar to the half of the market that has been shut out up until now because they didn’t have a suitable roof, high enough credit, or lived in apartments,” said Skulnik, who co-founded Clean Currents, Maryland’s first socially focused clean energy company that made Inc. magazine's list of the fastest-growing private businesses. “Community solar has the same impact as roof-top solar without having to install any equipment or sign 20-year contracts. And it will save consumers money.”

People who previously did not have access to solar programs, such as renters, are given greater access under the law. The solar arrays can be located on a nearby building, such as a church, or open community space to serve residents living in multifamily housing.

Basically, anyone who pays an electric bill can now purchase solar energy in Maryland, Skulnik said. Neighborhood Sun or another entity can build the solar project, and residents, businesses, and institutions then subscribe to the power from that project. Subscribers obtain credits on their electric bills for every kilowatt-hour of solar they purchase. “They save money as their electric meters virtually spin backwards,” Skulnik said.

Other states have passed similar laws as Maryland's, leading to experts forecasting substantial growth for the community solar market. Almost half of all U.S. households and businesses in 2015 were not able to maintain a solar photovoltaics systems due to factors such as a lack of suitable roof space and not owning the property, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Opening up that market could lead to an investment boost of between $8.2 billion and $16.3 billion through 2020, according to the federal report.

Neighborhood Sun stands to play a significant role in transforming the solar-energy industry, said Nash, who started his organic grocery business as a home-delivery venture out of his mom's garage in 1987. The Rockville-based grocer now has stores in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania and employs more than 900 people.

“This project will raise visibility and excitement for this option and offer a turnkey solution to new demographics,” Nash said.

Skulnik and Nash are well-respected environmental and business leaders whose experience and skills will serve them well in their latest venture, said Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. The Takoma Park-based nonprofit raises awareness about solutions to global warming.

“Gary and Scott have been the guys pushing the most in Maryland for businesses that look beyond profit to have a positive impact on our local community and the fight to combat climate change,” Tidwell said. “I’m excited to see where they take this innovative business.”

Skulnik is working on obtaining B-Corp status, a process that incorporates social and environmental responsibility principles into the charters of organizations and companies, for the venture. So far, the business operates only in Maryland.

“With Neighborhood Sun, we are taking 'sustainability' to the next level,” said Skulnik, who also founded the Clean Energy Partnership and formerly worked for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Sierra Club, Greenpeace and CNN Headline News. “We want to move beyond people buying green products into the realm of people forming concrete connections, supporting local businesses, creating local assets, and buying local clean power. After more than a decade in the business, I don’t want to just sell clean energy, I want to help create clean energy communities.”

Representatives of Neighborhood Sun will be at a table answering questions during the Prince George's County Green Summit 2016 on Thursday, May 19. The free event runs from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the University of Maryland's Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, 7801 Alumni Dr., in College Park.

Besides participating in that event, Neighborhood Sun will host the following informational sessions on community solar:

* Sunday, May 22, 2:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Fairmount Heights Library, Meeting Room, 5904 Kolb St., Fairmount Heights, Md.

* Sunday, June 5, 2:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m. South Bowie Library, Small Meeting Room, 15301 Hall Rd., Bowie, Md.

* Tuesday, July 12, time TBA. Bel Air Branch Library, 100 E Pennsylvania Ave., Bel Air, Md.

The venture also had tables at the Montgomery County GreenFest, University of Maryland Earth Day Festival and Howard County GreenFest in April. Other informational sessions have been held since late March, including in Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Greenbelt, Columbia and Bowie.

For more information: www.neighborhoodsun.solar

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