Solstice launches Program to Support Communities with Renewable Energy Funding

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Solstice, the community solar company dedicated to making clean energy accessible to all households and businesses, is now launching an innovative renewable energy credit (REC) program to drive investment in disadvantaged communities, with Microsoft as one of the first customers during the program's 2024 pilot.

Through Solstice's new Community Benefit REC program, corporate buyers purchase RECs that support initiatives such as increasing capacity for community solar co-ops, installing solar panels for nonprofits, expanding solar workforce development programs for under-resourced communities, and providing utility bill assistance for households facing energy insecurity.    

The Community Benefit REC program funds will be allocated to address the specific needs of each community selected. Solstice is working closely with local nonprofits and organizations to identify clean energy-related areas of need, including donations to organizations not often considered in philanthropic efforts such as community solar co-ops, who, unlike nonprofits, often lack access to traditional funding, making these contributions crucial for their development and success. Every dollar spent in this program will contribute to strengthening community infrastructure and promoting local development. 

"We're thrilled to launch this REC product that enables true community benefits," said Sandhya Murali, CEO at Solstice. "We're helping under-resourced communities take control of their future through clean energy."

Among the program's first beneficiaries is Boston Medical Center (BMC), which will use the funds to develop additional onsite solar installations. This expansion will support BMC's Clean Power Prescription Program, which reduces the utility bills of eligible patients using renewable energy. The program utilizes an installation of solar panels on the rooftop of an administrative building at the hospital to support the physical, economic and environmental health of BMC patients through the benefits of cleaner, affordable renewable solar power.

"With Clean Power Prescription, Boston Medical Center aims to directly alleviate energy-related financial burdens by harnessing cleaner solar energy," said Anna Goldman, MD, MPH, MPA, Medical Director of Climate and Sustainability at Boston Medical Center. "This work is made possible by the generosity of corporations and organizations like Solstice and Microsoft. At BMC, we understand that achieving good health requires much more than traditional medicine. For more than two decades, BMC has been a leader in addressing not just medical but also social and environmental factors that impact the health of our patients."

The funding will also support the Boston Community Solar Cooperative (BCSC) in advancing its first community-owned solar array on the Dorchester Food Co-op rooftop. BCSC aspires to write a new chapter in Boston's energy future by delivering the environmental and economic benefits of solar energy to underserved neighborhoods.

Another beneficiary, Community Work Services (CWS), will use the funding to expand its Clean Energy job training program, creating workforce development opportunities in the renewable energy sector for underserved communities, including returning citizens.

These organizations are just a few of the many beneficiaries receiving funds, each making a unique impact in their communities. To learn more about how Community Benefit RECs can support local clean energy projects and maximize the potential of your corporate funds, contact Solstice today.

For more information on Community Benefit RECs, visit https://solstice.us/solstice-for-enterprise/ 

About Solstice Power Technologies LLC

Founded in 2016, Solstice is a mission-driven company dedicated to ensuring every community can access and benefit from clean energy. Solstice connects households and businesses to community solar farms that reduce their electricity bills with no upfront cost or installation, pioneers inclusive financing innovations such as the EnergyScore, and offers Community Benefit RECs, which aggregate corporate community investments to fund new clean energy projects and environmental justice initiatives. Solstice's solutions provide tangible financial benefits to under-resourced community members and the organizations that serve them, ensuring the clean energy revolution supports those who need it most.

For more information, visit https://solstice.us.

Media Contacts
Mary Jackson
Solstice Power Technologies LLC
[email protected] 

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SOURCE Solstice Power Technologies LLC