Earlier this year, the Climate Access Fund, Solar Steward, CohnReznick, and other partners launched the Solar4Us @ Henderson Hopkins project, a $3.8 million, 808 kilowatt rooftop community solar project.

The project is owned and developed by the Climate Access Fund and is located at Elmer A. Henderson: Johns Hopkins University, a public K-8 school in Baltimore. The Solar4Us @ Henderson Hopkins project not only saved nearly $1 million in energy costs for approximately 150 low - and middle-income households over 35 years and provided vocational training opportunities, but also expanded practical pathways for businesses to participate in energy transition through Social Renewable Energy Certificates (Social RECs).

Through the unique arrangement developed by Atlanta based social enterprise Solar Stewards, the school's vocational training and courses will be funded through the purchase of Solar4Us @ Henderson Hopkins' Renewable Energy Credit (REC) by professional service company CohnReznick, generating over $250000 in sustained income for the Solar4Us @ Henderson Hopkins project, Climate Access Fund, and the organization's future community solar goals.

We recognize that businesses play an important role as' good stewards' and 'good neighbors' of the local economy, "said Anton Cohen, Partner and Head of Renewable Energy Business at CohnReznick. The collaboration with Solar Stewards has clarified the scope of renewable energy credit lines and provided an economic basis for CohnReznick to pay a premium for social renewable energy certificates (Social RECs). Our collaboration enables hundreds of households to access clean and affordable electricity at reasonable prices, while saving on electricity bills and reducing our company's carbon footprint. ”

Through the Solar Stewards market, all revenue from REC will be used to fund community projects that bring social and economic benefits to historically excluded communities, thereby creating social REC.

The annual membership of Solar Stewards Marketplace enables businesses to choose available community opportunities and select projects that align with their mission and goals. The Solar Stewards team will review each project. The team provides high-level rigorous review and supervision to verify participation in the community and help businesses reduce risks, ensuring the effectiveness of social impact statements.