2020 has been an...interesting year to say the least. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of our employees, however, Standard Solar has continued its record growth trajectory, financing more projects than ever before. And as we head into the fourth quarter, we remain focused on the most pressing issues facing the industry today — ones that have long-term effects for its future.
Whether it’s ongoing efforts to help the U.S. solar industry improve on its diversity goals or pushing to bring community solar to low- and moderate-income consumers in Maryland and Pennsylvania, we will never stop striving for what is right not just for today, but for tomorrow, too.
And we’ll continue to share best practices and educate others, like our own Shaun Laughlin did at the recent Renewable Energy Markets conference or John Finnerty will on Oct. 8 as part of a webinar on the state of the solar industry in 2020.
Finally, we highlight our Old New Windsor project at Fritz Family Farms in the latest Solar Builder contest to find the coolest, most innovative solar project of the year.
This month’s newsletter features news on these topics and more, providing useful information and resources from our partners and company experts.
DIVERSITY: BLOG
Diversity Makes Our Industry Stronger
According to the U.S. Solar Diversity Study, “Today, industry leaders are naming diversity, inclusion, and equity as top business priorities.”
Standard Solar has worked alongside the Solar Energy Industries Association and The Solar Foundation in these efforts, co-sponsoring studies and putting their recommendations into concrete efforts to diversify its work force. Our own efforts, including launching a Diversity and Inclusion Committee, are steps in the right direction — but there is still work to be done.
Hear more about this issue and what our electrical preventative maintenance manager and Master Electrician, Paul Collins, has to say about reaching minority communities and getting the message out to them about jobs in solar.
The State of the Solar Market in 2020 – October 8, 12 noon ET
Experts from ARM Group, Standard Solar and Prospect 14 will present a live webinar to discuss critical topics to the solar industry, including community solar versus utility-scale development, stakeholder engagement, solar engineering design build, solar policy and much more.
Pennsylvania Community Solar Policy – Now Is The Time
Farm and Dairy reports on how solar could save rural America, pointing to important legislation under discussion in Pennsylvania. If enacted, House Bill 531 and Senate Bill 705 would allow the use of community solar in the state, providing a new source of income to landowners and farmers. The piece also highlights various ways solar developers can work with farmers to ensure the land remains agriculturally productive.
Project of the Year – Old New Windsor Solar Project
Solar Builder recently submitted their coolest, most innovative and noteworthy solar projects of the last 12 months, and after combing through another record amount of submissions, our Old New Windsor project was selected as a finalist.
Standard Solar provided the financing to help Fritz Family Farms in New Windsor, Maryland, turn 12 low-yield acres of their 400-acre hay, grain and cattle farm into a 2.7 megawatt (MW) solar array. WSSC Water, one of the largest water and wastewater utilities in the nation and a long-time Standard Solar partner, is purchasing the power from Fritz Family Farms in an effort to meet their own internal sustainability goals as well as providing additional value to their Maryland customers.
Fulfilling the Promise of Solar Through the Emerging Community Solar Garden Market
Last week, our Head of US Strategic and Channel Partner Development, Shaun Laughlin, led an engaging session on “Fulfilling the Promise of Solar Through the Emerging Community Solar Garden Market” during the virtual Renewable Energy Markets conference.
Read more about Shaun's take on community solar and how the segment's cost competitiveness and new market expansion are imparting a healthy degree of optimism for 2020 and 2021.
Expanding Affordable and Accessible Solar to Maryland Communities
Community solar opens the benefits of solar to anyone who receives an electric bill, including lower-income residents, businesses, municipalities, schools and non-profits. In addition, its cost competitiveness and ability to expand into new markets is driving investments in Maryland communities at a time when they are greatly needed.
Standard Solar is bringing more than 8,000,000 kWh of annual energy supply to Maryland community solar subscribers, in partnership with Ogos Energy LLC, Earth and Air Technologies and Neighborhood Sun, with two community solar projects — a combined 5.5 megawatts (MW).
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