The project is a community renewable energy facility (CREF or community solar) located in Ward 4 and is one of nearly 200 community solar installations that are part of Solar for All, which is designed to bring the benefits of solar to 100,000 income-qualified DC residents by 2032. The partners released a video today highlighting the new installation and the benefits these projects are bringing to the District.
This community solar installation is the first of its kind in the Solar for All program and is also the first project in the DC area to use the SunStyle solar shingle. Solar shingles and roofing like SunStyle’s are unique in that they produce electricity like a traditional solar panel but also serve as the actual roofing material. This solar roof will produce enough electricity to serve six income-qualified DC families through Solar for All Community Solar subscriptions.
Flywheel Development, a DC-based solar developer and participant in the Solar for All program since 2019, has worked closely with the DCSEU and DC Green Bank to make the project a reality. Since 2019, Flywheel has completed 24 Solar for All Community Solar installations and expects to complete another 11 working with both organizations this year
“The DCSEU and DC Green Bank are critical partners for these projects,” said Jessica Pitts, co-founder and CEO of Flywheel Development. “The incentives the DCSEU provides through the Solar for All program and the affordable financing provided by DC Green Bank enable us to build our business, bring solar to buildings where it may not have been an option, and to be a part of the District’s transformation to a clean energy economy.”
DC Green Bank, established by DC Council and Mayor Muriel Bowser in 2018, has been working closely with Flywheel Development on Solar for All projects for the past two years to provide construction financing. To date, the DC Green Bank has committed more than $25 million in financing to support local businesses and advance the District’s clean energy, environment, and equity goals.
“Flywheel brought us our first financing project back in 2020 and we are incredibly proud to continue to work with them to bring these Solar for All projects to life that will serve low- to moderate-income families here in DC,” said Eli Hopson, CEO of DC Green Bank. “DC Green Bank is a key piece of the puzzle to provide access to capital for smaller and growing companies, and we want to work with more businesses like Flywheel that are seeking to expand in sustainable industries across the city.”
This year under Solar for All, the DCSEU, who manages the program on behalf of the District Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), is providing more than $11.5 million in incentives to local solar contractors and developers to install solar systems on single-family homes of income-qualified DC families, as well to develop larger community solar systems like this one in Ward 4. In total, this work is expected to help more than 2,600 income-qualified DC families cut their electricity bills by about 50 percent, up to $500 per year, for the next 15 years.
“Solar for All is making a significant impact here in the District by creating opportunities for local contractors, creating jobs for District residents, and most importantly, creating lasting electricity bill savings for income-qualified DC families,” said Ted Trabue, Managing Director of the DCSEU. “Local contractors like Flywheel Development are bringing innovative technologies like this to the program and are critical to ensuring the District meets its clean energy and climate goals.”
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About the DCSEU and Solar for All
The DCSEU helps DC residents and businesses use less energy and save money. Since 2011, the DCSEU has delivered financial incentives, technical assistance, and information to tens of thousands of District residents and businesses, helping to generate more than $1.3 billion in lifetime energy cost savings. Its work is building a brighter economic, environmental, and energy future for the District.
Solar for All, a program of the District of Columbia’s Department of Energy and Environment currently operated by the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU), seeks to provide the benefits of solar electricity to 100,000 low-income households and reduce their energy bills by 50% by 2032. The program, which was established by the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Expansion Amendment Act of 2016, is funded by the Renewable Energy Development Fund (REDF). For more information about Solar for All visit: http://doee.dc.gov/solarforall.
About DC Green Bank
DC Green Bank develops and facilitates innovative financial solutions to support District businesses, organizations, and residents on the path to a cleaner future for all. We invest in solar energy systems, energy efficient buildings and retrofits, green stormwater infrastructure, and transportation electrification in line with our values of Sustainability, Clean Economy, and Inclusive Prosperity. To date, DC Green Bank has invested millions of dollars in a cleaner, greener, and more equitable future. To learn more visit www.dcgreenbank.com.
About Flywheel Development
Flywheel Development is a leading sustainable development company. We are active in real estate, solar development, and stormwater management infrastructure. We bring strong leadership to our core activities and successfully implement ambitious energy and health-based targets. We use an integrated approach to problem solving and are committed to continual research and development of advanced solutions that can both add value and reduce complexity in a space where turning to complex solutions is often the norm.
About SunStyle
SunStyle is leading the future of residential and commercial solar roofing, integrating strength, beauty, and the power of solar. Rooftop solar is no longer just an add-on to the roof---it can be the roof. The SunStyle design integrates well with any architectural style and enhances the beauty of any structure. For more than a decade, SunStyle has been engineering, manufacturing, and installing edge-to-edge, fully integrated, solar roofs around the world. Our solar roofs are found on homes, historical buildings, industrial complexes, and commercial landmarks like Google’s new headquarters buildings in Mountain View, CA.
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