2023 Impact Report
The urgency of climate change has intensified this year, with an increase in extreme weather events and record-breaking levels of heat and sea level rise. Amidst these daunting realities, community solar stands out as a beacon of hope for an equitable clean energy transition that leaves no one behind. It represents not only a path toward cleaner energy but also a means of fostering inclusivity and resilience in our communities.
Company
Neighborhood Sun is on a mission to make clean, affordable, and locally-generated energy accessible to ALL.
Social Impact
We help households and organizations of all income levels to save money while supporting local clean energy by connecting them to the lowest-cost retail energy source: community solar. This new state-supported program allows anyone who pays an electricity bill to save money by subscribing to receive a share of the discounted renewable energy generated by a nearby community solar farm. That means no costs, installations, or homeownership requirements for the subscriber!
Sustainable Development Goals
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Letter from our C.E.O.
To Our Solar Community
This year brought some major wins for solar. Solar energy accounted for more than half of new generating capacity in the United States, making it the first time in 80 years that a renewable energy source took the lead. In April, the Maryland state legislature passed House Bill (HB) 908, which accomplished 3 crucial things (1) making the state’s successful seven-year community solar pilot program permanent (2) allowing for unlimited community solar capacity (3) requiring that 40% of a project’s output serves low- to moderate-income (LMI) subscribers. New Jersey and Minnesota also passed bills to bolster their community solar programs and address barriers for LMI subscribers.
Our commitment to community solar is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves access to affordable, renewable energy. As utility costs surged across the nation leaving many families struggling with rising bills, we’ve seen the importance of this mission magnified. Thanks to the collaboration of everyone in our solar community, Neighborhood Sun subscribers saved more than $2.8 Million on electricity bills in 2023 while our solar developer partners generated over 201 Million kWh of renewable solar energy. We donated $10,700 to our partner nonprofits and impact-driven businesses, and we welcomed 5,045 new subscribers as we continue to advocate for policy that addresses barriers for low- and moderate-income folks.
Community solar is more than just a solution to high energy costs; it’s a tool for social equity. It ensures that the benefits of clean energy extend beyond those with the means to install rooftop panels to also reach renters, low-income families, and rural communities. I’m incredibly proud of our compassionate, driven team and all that we have accomplished this year to generate benefits for people and the planet, from protecting the air we breathe to putting savings back into people’s pockets. As we look to the future, we remain committed to exploring new green energy solutions and enhancing our services to better support our diverse community of subscribers.
Gary Skulnik, Founder & CEO
Annual Highlights
Customers
Environment
Community
Goals
As Neighborhood Sun continues to grow, a primary goal for the company is to remain committed to serving low- and moderate-income (LMI) community members as we work to address the barriers they face in the solar space. With the legislation passed this year, we remain confident that we will continue to grow the number of LMI subscribers in our solar community and bring solar access to new communities of all income levels.
