News
Partners celebrate completion of Brentwood Reservoir Community Renewable Energy Facility
Washington, DC — July 29, 2026 — Project partners, District leaders, and community stakeholders gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completed community solar project at the Brentwood Reservoir Community Renewable Energy Facility, a landmark that transforms DC Water’s Brentwood Reservoir site in Ward 5 into a clean energy asset serving low-to-moderate income District residents. This community solar project led by NHT Ingenuity Power (a joint venture of National Housing Trust and Urban Ingenuity, an innovation lab of Working Power) is one of the largest in the District and will provide up to $257,000 in yearly electricity bill savings to District residents that need it most.
“By converting underutilized spaces into renewable energy assets, this project demonstrates the power of reimagining critical infrastructure as sources of clean energy,” said Richard Jackson, Director of the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). “The District is proud to help deliver meaningful bill savings for residents while advancing a cleaner, more affordable future.”
The celebration marked a major milestone in the District’s clean energy transition and recognized the collaboration among NHT Ingenuity Power, DC Water, Working Power, NEO Energy, SunLight General Capital, the DOEE, and the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU). The facility is designed to deliver clean power and meaningful bill savings to income-qualified District households through the District’s Solar for All program.
“We're thrilled the Brentwood Reservoir Community Solar project is completed. As one of D.C.’s largest community solar projects, this will effectively cut energy bills in half for over 500 low-income residents in the area.” said Niki Molina, Working Power Chief Operating Officer & Asset Manager. “Community solar can mean hundreds of dollars in annual savings for families — money that could go toward food, school supplies, or medical bills.”
“At National Housing Trust we believe everyone should have access to clean, affordable energy, because reliable energy systems help support stable and resilient homes communities.” said Josh Earn, NHT Managing Director of Lending & Innovation. “Community solar projects like Brentwood, significantly lower utility costs for families and provide real relief for residents who are struggling to make ends meet with rising costs of living. We’re grateful for our partners, especially our host site DC Water for this opportunity to help hundreds of residents access clean, affordable energy that lowers costs, strengthens our environment, and powers our communities”
The DCSEU works in partnership with DOEE on the Solar for All program and is working with solar developers like NHT Ingenuity Power to develop large community solar projects throughout the city. Since 2019, the DCSEU has worked with local developers and contractors to develop more than 250 Solar for All Community Solar installations that will expand solar power access to more than 11,000 income-qualified families that will deliver more than $80 million in lifetime electricity bill savings.
“Today’s ribbon cutting is more than a celebration of a completed solar project—it is a celebration of what becomes possible when public agencies, mission-driven organizations, private partners, and community-focused investors work together,” said Ben Burdick, DCSEU Managing Director. “At a time when affordability is at the top of everyone’s mind, the Brentwood Reservoir Community Renewable Energy Facility will help lower energy costs for District households who need it most while demonstrating how infrastructures can support a cleaner, more equitable future.”
Located on DC Water’s 18-acre Brentwood Reservoir property, the approximately 1.8-megawatt installation includes roughly 4,000 solar panels and is expected to generate more than 2.5 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity annually. Through the Solar for All program, the facility will provide utility bill savings to more than 500 income-qualified District households and up to $3.8 million in lifetime electricity bill savings, advancing the District’s climate, clean energy, and energy equity goals. All while sitting atop an underground reinforced concrete reservoir for potable water storage of about 25 million gallons.
“DC Water is proud to partner on this community solar project and support an initiative that will deliver meaningful benefits to the District. We are committed to helping keep utility bills affordable for our customers, and the Brentwood Reservoir Community Solar installation advances that commitment by generating revenue for the Authority over the next 20 years to help offset rates,” said Matthew Brown, Interim CEO and General Manager, DC Water. “At the same time, the project supports the District’s clean energy goals and demonstrates how innovative partnerships can create lasting value for our customers and the communities we serve. “
Transforming underutilized spaces into sources of renewable energy that benefit the District requires intentional collaboration, thoughtful planning, and a shared commitment to innovation. This project demonstrates what is possible when partners work together to expand community solar opportunities within the District’s limited footprint.
About Solar for All
Solar for All, a program of the District of Columbia’s Department of Energy and Environment, seeks to provide the benefits of solar electricity to 100,000 low-income households and reduce their energy bills by 50% by 2032.
About the DCSEU
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 $2.2 billion in lifetime energy cost savings. Its work is building a brighter economic, environmental, and energy future for the District of Columbia.
About Working Power
Working Power (WP), with its innovation lab Urban Ingenuity, partners with affordable housing developers and community-based organizations to build co-owned clean energy projects. WP advances a clean energy economy that builds wealth and power for people in historically underinvested communities while delivering energy bill savings and reducing harmful pollution.
About National Housing Trust (NHT)
National Housing Trust (NHT) creates and preserves affordable homes to provide opportunity, advance racial equity, reduce economic disparities, and strengthen community resilience. Through practice and policy, we are the only organization whose climate strategy is exclusively focused on integrating residents and the affordable housing building stock into solutions. Since NHT-Renewable was created in 2014, we have partnered with affordable housing owners across the country to co-develop, finance, and install 13MW of renewable energy projects. Our expertise in affordable housing and track record developing portfolio-level solar installations have generated $26.3M in property and resident savings, impacted over 11,800 low-income households, and reduced emissions by 330,946 metric tons.
About the DOEE
DOEE is the leading authority on energy and environmental issues affecting the District of Columbia. 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.
About DC Water
DC Water distributes drinking water and collects and treats wastewater for more than 700,000 residents and 27 million annual visitors in the District of Columbia. DC Water also provides wholesale wastewater treatment services for 1.8 million people in Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland, and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. We are proud to provide these vital, safe, and high-quality services to our customers while also protecting and enhancing our environment.
To distribute drinking water, DC Water operates more than 1,350 miles of pipes, four pumping stations, five reservoirs, four elevated water storage tanks, 43,860 valves, and 9,500 public hydrants. To collect wastewater, DC Water operates 1,800 miles of sanitary and combined sewers, 22 flow-metering stations, and nine off-site wastewater pumping stations. To treat wastewater, DC Water operates the Blue Plains Resource Recovery Facility, the largest advanced wastewater treatment facility in the world.