Neighborhood Sun Subscriber is Also a Seasoned Investor in the Public Benefit Corporation

At Neighborhood Sun, many of our subscribers have invested in our community-based fundraising rounds through the WeFunder platform, allowing folks to invest in the future of solar for as little as $250. We value this approach because it helps to democratize investments in clean energy rather than solely relying on venture capitalist firms and seasoned investors. 

Our team couldn’t be prouder that so many of our subscribers support our brand and mission enough to invest their own hard-earned money, and we are equally touched when someone who joins Neighborhood Sun initially as an investor also becomes a subscriber.  For J.P. Moscarella, it was the latter. As an early angel investor in the company and now a subscriber for more than 6 years, J.P.’s understanding of the business goes beyond the comprehension of most, which is why we asked him to share his story in a recent interview to celebrate the closing of our latest WeFunder round.

When did you first learn about Neighborhood Sun?

“I first learned about Neighborhood Sun in January of 2017. I met Gary at a pitch night in D.C. He wasn’t pitching, but we met at the beer line.”

Was it that conversation with Gary Skulnik that got you interested in community solar?

“I’d say it was two things…

One, Gary is very impressive as a CEO and founder. This wasn’t his first rodeo. I’ve been investing for a long time, and you usually get a mix of overconfident entrepreneurs or folks who aren’t seasoned. Gary had previous experience, was seasoned, and knew what he was doing.

Second, community solar regulations are very favorable. If you look at it from three different angles, (1) it’s favorable for the end user—the subscribers—because they get a 10% discount (2) It’s favorable for developers of solar farms because they sell their energy at a higher rate, at a discount to the retail rate rather than the wholesale rate, and (3) it’s favorable for politicians and local authorities because it keeps solar local and engages communities that weren’t previously part of the solar industry.”

When did you make your first investment?

“I was part of a group of angel investors. I organized it, and we all closed in May or June of 2017, right around there.”

How have you seen the company grow since your first investment?

“It’s still a private, illiquid company. However, the top line—the revenues—has gone up very nicely. 2023 was a record year, and 2024 is on track to be another record year. The goal is to achieve profitability, which requires scale.”

What made you decide to invest in community solar rather than rooftop solar?

“I like the community solar business model and the subscription model. It’s different from my earlier energy business experience, which was about developing projects. This is more retail-facing. We talk about the distributed clean energy utility of the future—first selling them a community solar product and then upselling or cross-selling them. The company has 28,000 customers now; at 300,000, it would be a mini-utility. At that scale, the possibilities become very exciting.”

Where do you see the clean energy industry headed, and what role do you foresee for Neighborhood Sun or community solar?

“It’s an irreversible trend towards clean energy. Last year, 40% of all new energy generation was renewables. Hopefully, it will become a majority, but we need to move faster. Distributed clean energy, solar, and storage are here to stay, though scale remains a challenge. Neighborhood Sun can play a major role in virtual power plants, distributed energy resources, and more.”

What differentiates Neighborhood Sun from other community solar companies?

“The brand and the tech platform, SunEngineTM, are highly regarded. The customer service also stands out, and the licensing of tech for white labeling is a real differentiator.”

How long have you been a community solar subscriber with Neighborhood Sun?

“I signed up when I used to live in Bethesda in 2018. When we moved to Baltimore in 2021, Neighborhood Sun switched our household’s subscription to a project local to our new home.”

If you’re interested in investing in the future of renewables, don’t miss out! Today is the last day to get your piece of the Sun through WeFunder.