This edition of Projects Weekly highlights SolRiver and DC Green Bank breaking ground on new solar projects in North Carolina and Washington, D.C., respectively, while the new EV chargers are impacting the community of Davis California. Continue reading to learn about these projects in solar project news.
Construction has begun on SolRiver Capital’s 7 MW Longleaf Solar Project in Davie County, North Carolina. The Denver-based renewable energy investment firm acquired the project as a development asset, finished the remaining development work, and brought the project to notice to proceed (NTP). The project will be owned and operated as part of the company’s larger Carolinas portfolio.
“When we purchased the Longleaf project, it wasn’t quite ready to build yet,” said Riley Sullivan, executive VP at SolRiver Capital. “Fortunately, we have a good playbook for wrapping up development and getting projects built.”
Cool factor: The project is utilizing safe-harbor panels purchased and delivered in 2023. Eligible for safe harbor, these panels were stored in a North Carolina warehouse and have been deployed on this project as well as several other projects built over the past two years. Panel deliveries were recently completed at the Longleaf site.
Once finished, SolRiver will have brought a dozen solar projects online in the Carolinas, totaling approximately 100 MW of generating capacity. Longleaf Solar is expected to become operational in Q2 2025. The company is also building the Williams project, a 6 MW installation expected to come online around the same time as Longleaf.
DC Green Bank, Jubilee Housing break ground on affordable housing development
Jubilee Housing and DC Green Bank broke ground on a new energy-efficient affordable housing development that will deliver new homes and workforce training to Washington, D.C.’s Ward 1. The new building, King Emmanuel Baptist Church (KEB), will have 18 single-room occupancy (SRO) units for returning citizens, feature an all-electric community kitchen offering workforce training programs, and serve as a hub for Jubilee Housing’s Reentry Housing Initiative Program.
The project is located at the site of the King Emanuel Baptist Church — one of the longest-standing African American churches in Ward 1 — and will retain the façade and key design elements to honor its legacy in the neighborhood.
Cool factor: DC Green Bank provided a $3 million loan to finance high-performance building upgrades, including a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heating and cooling system, which is anticipated to lower greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50%. Other green elements include high-efficiency insulation, energy-efficient appliances and lighting, and building envelope upgrades. The building is designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities Certification Plus, one of the highest standards for sustainable buildings. In addition to the DC Green Bank-funded heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the development will include a rooftop solar system that will generate an estimated 21,000 kWh annually, reducing carbon emissions.
The project will be the first funded under the District’s Department of Housing and Community Development’s long-term Reentry Housing and Services Pilot Grant. The DC Council approved funding for the pilot grant program in 2018 to provide immediate housing and services for returning citizens. The KEB building is expected to be completed in early 2026.
Solar microgrid EV charging stations added to California city park
Paired Power has installed its PairTree solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station at Playfields Park in Davis, California. This is the second charging station that PairTree is bringing to the city, with its unique solar microgrid technology for free and sustainable charging to the community.
“The goal of making electric vehicles accessible to everyone requires scalable solutions that can be deployed quickly in locations where there is little to no grid power,” said Tom McCalmont, CEO of Paired Power.
Compared to traditional EV chargers, the PairTree system offers solar integration to enable off-grid operation, ensuring reliable charging even during power outages, and contributes to energy savings. Furthermore, the system’s design allows for quick, one-day installation.
Cool factor: The Playfields Park PairTree features two EV charging ports and can deliver a Level 2 charging rate of up to 7.7 kW for one vehicle or 4 kW per vehicle for two vehicles charging simultaneously. Paired Power’s software ensures 99.7% charging uptime. The chargers at Playfields Park are being offered to the public free of charge.
“The installation at Playfields Park is an exciting development for Davis,” said Davis Mayor Bapu Vaitla. The installation is a part of the city’s Electrify Yolo initiative, which aims to expand public access to EV charging.
Nautilus Solar Energy LLC grew its community solar energy capacity in 2024 across the United States by adding 149 MW of new projects into its expanding operating portfolio, according to the company’s 2024 energy impact metrics.
“Nautilus’ continued growth in 2024 is a testament to successful collaboration and execution across our entire company” said Jeffrey Cheng, CEO of Nautilus Solar. Further, “in the face of economic uncertainty, our community solar offerings are providing tangible value and savings for our subscribers, which are critical factors to our continued expansion.”
Cool factor: Nautilus is now operating 477 MW of community solar projects across 12 states and serving more than 40,000 community solar subscribers. With these operating metrics, Nautilus is firmly cemented as one of largest and most successful community solar companies in the country. Nautilus Solar’s rapid expansion in 2024 reinforced its leading position in the community solar marketplace. With 146 projects operational, Nautilus Solar’s steadily growing environmental and economic impact now includes 446 million kWh of clean energy produced.
X-ELIO closes 6 PPAs with Cisco, Biogen, IDEXX, and Waters Corporation
X-ELIO and the Net Zero Consortium for Buyers (NZCB) have announced the signing of six virtual power purchase agreements (PPAs) for a combined total capacity of 172 MW in the United States. The consortium includes major companies such as Cisco Systems, Biogen, IDEXX Laboratories, and Waters Corp. This milestone has been achieved through the mediation of Sustainability Roundtable, a pioneering organization in corporate sustainability.
Cool factor: The energy for these 12-year arrangements will be sourced from X-ELIO’s Star Dairy and Rosebud projects in Texas. Under this partnership, these projects are expected to supply an estimated 367,000 MWh annually, with operations set to begin in 2027.
Tags: Community Solar
