Challenge
The Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Harrison began exploring community solar as a way to engage the community, bringing surrounding residents and businesses together in an effort that can collectively support the environment and reduce the town’s carbon footprint. They wanted a solution that was financially beneficial for all participants, incentivising community members to take part in the project.
In pursuing clean energy solutions, the JCC was looking for a partner that could navigate the process to ensure it was executed correctly, economically, efficiently. Although passionate about doing their part to combat climate change, the JCC members and officers did not have the necessary experience to manage the technical, regulatory, and financial components of the project’s planning, development, and long term management.
Solution
After considering several potential partners, the JCC of Harrison selected Catalyze as the ideal renewable energy partner to install rooftop solar to create a community solar system. The rooftop community solar array allows surrounding residents and businesses to receive bill credits for their share of the solar farm, resulting in an estimated 10% reduction on their electricity bills. The project successfully enlisted full participation from the community, with all available shares of the solar system accounted for.
Result
By choosing to pursue rooftop community solar, the town was able to make use of existing property for the project’s development, and avoid the use of open land. By renting their rooftop space to host the solar energy system from Catalyze, the JCC of Harrison will receive approximately $405,000 in rental payments over the 30-year lease term, an important value-adding stream of revenue. Catalyze will support the project’s maintenance over this lease term, to ensure the system remains operational, profitable, and a useful asset for the community.
