For Immediate Release
New Columbia Solar Contact: Emma Lutz, (203) 240-8631, [email protected]
WASHINGTON – Residents at Washington’s historic Lightview Cooperative now have access to solar power thanks to the DC Department of Energy and Environment’s (DOEE), “Solar for All” Innovation and Expansion Grant for low and moderate-income residents. PEER Consultants, P.C. (PEER) in partnership with New Columbia Solar, used the grant finds to develop, construct, finance, and operate a 108.2 kW solar system at the Cooperative.
“With the Solar for All award, we were able to bring renewable energy to an affordable housing community in Ward 4. This program enabled our team to provide free renewable energy to residents, lowering the costs of their electricity bills by at least 50%.” said New Columbia Solar Co-founder and CEO Michael J. Healy.
“PEER Consultants has successfully identified over 30 LMI Lightview Cooperative residents to receive the energy generated by this system at no cost. We are continuing to enroll residents of the cooperative and others from the surrounding community in Ward 4 to benefit from this exciting program.” said PEER President and CEO, Dr. Lilia A. Abron, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE.
Located in DC’s Ward 4, Lightview Cooperative is largely made up of senior citizen and low-income residents. It’s one of the city’s last remaining limited-equity co-ops under an initiative created by former Mayor Marion Barry.
A host of dignitaries joined Dr. Abron, Healy, and residents Wednesday, January 29 to celebrate the building’s array going online. Event participants included Ward 4 Councilman Brandon Todd, Tommy Wells, Director of Department of Energy and Environment, and Ronnie Dampier with Mayor Bowser’s Office of Infrastructure.
Councilman Todd highlighted the involvement of co-op resident Kathy Arnold who was the project manager for the installation.
“The point of contact throughout this project, Kathy Arnold, has been crucial in its development and success. As a board member & resident of Lightview Cooperative and a contracted employee of PEER Consultants, she is a proud Ward 4 constituent and wants to ensure that this project is a highlight of her community,” said Todd.
Arnold was thrilled to have the project online, saying “We are just thankful to be the recipients of this project. It cost us absolutely nothing!”
About PEER
PEER Consultants, P.C. (PEER), is a 41-year-old, full-service environmental and civil engineering consulting firm founded in 1978 by Dr. Lilia A. Abron, P.E., BCEE. Since its inception, PEER has been providing these services to the U.S. federal government, water and wastewater utilities, and municipal agencies throughout the U.S. With headquarters in Washington, DC and additional offices in Baltimore, MD, Burlington, MA, and Clearwater, FL, PEER is strategically located to serve its clients throughout the U.S. The company presently has more than seventy (70) engineers, scientists, technicians, planners, and administrative professionals. Since 1978, the firm has been focused on providing transformative, appropriate, and sustainable solutions for its clients’ challenging environmental problems.
Through our focus areas – Environmental Engineering and Sciences; Sustainability; and, Water and Wastewater Engineering; – PEER provides professional services for the enhancement, maintenance, and restoration of the natural and built environments. Please visit www.peercpc.com for more information.
About DOEE’s 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. 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
View the story here.
About New Columbia Solar
New Columbia Solar is a Washington, DC-based solar energy company, financier, owner, and operator of commercial and industrial solar energy facilities. Founded in 2016, the company y has grown to be the largest and most comprehensive solar energy company in the District of Columbia. Our mission is to help landlord’s and their surrounding communities take advantage of renewable energy and the profits and energy resiliency it provides. For more information, visit: www.newcolumbiasolar.com
Email: [email protected]