What New Columbia Solar does

New Columbia Solar is a Washington, DC-based commercial, industrial, and community solar developer founded in 2016 by Mike Healy, Nick Giannotti, and Nicole Marandino. The company finances, designs, installs, owns, and operates distributed solar PV systems — rooftop, parking canopy, carport, and ground-mount — for property owners across DC and, more recently, New Jersey. It sells no hardware directly; instead it monetizes projects through three structures: fixed lease payments to property hosts, power purchase agreements (PPAs) supplying on-site electricity at 30-90% below utility rates, and bundled capital improvements such as no-cost roof replacements. The company has developed 300+ projects, deployed roughly $150M into its portfolio, and reports a 99.7% interconnection success rate, with a deliberate strategic shift since 2019 from a project-developer-sells-on-completion model to a developer-operator that retains long-duration cash flows over 15-20 year project lifecycles.

The business is anchored in a single regulatory environment: the District of Columbia's incentive stack, including Solar for All, SRECs, and tax equity structures, where NCS holds the largest share of Solar for All projects. Customer segments are diversified across affordable housing (Standard Communities, Lightview Cooperative), education (GWU, KIPP DC, WTEF), religious and nonprofit institutions, healthcare (Children's National), government (DC Public Library, OAS), and commercial anchors (Audi Field, Atlas Performing Arts Center). Revenue mechanics are reinforced by a stacked financing platform — $25M debt from Amalgamated Bank, $40M tax equity from Franklin Park Infrastructure, and $10M growth equity from New Energy Capital Partners — plus channel partnerships with Arcadia Power and CleanChoice Energy for community solar subscriber management. NCS employs roughly 100 people, has expanded operations to New Jersey (announced 2024), and in late 2024 hired a CFO with explicit M&A and capital markets responsibilities, signaling a transition toward scaled, multi-state growth.

Name

New Columbia Solar

Legal name

New Columbia Solar

Website

https://newcolumbiasolar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Solar Energy Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electrical Work (1731), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Design, Engineering & Performance Software (PV Modeling, Digital Twins, Monitoring) (EUAMABAH), Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO), Solar Mounting, Racking & Trackers (Fixed-Tilt, Single/Dual-Axis, Rooftop Mounts) (EUAMABAF), Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ)

Keywords

• Commercial solar development
• Power purchase agreements
• Solar lease financing
• Community solar programs
• Rooftop solar installation

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fixed Lease Payments: Property owners receive monthly or annual lease payments for using their rooftop, parking lot, or vacant space to host solar installations. New Columbia Solar exports energy directly to the grid and pays property owners for the use of their space over 15-20 year terms.
2. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): Provides property owners with significantly discounted electricity from on-site solar systems at rates 30-90% lower than current utility rates. Energy is consumed on-site through net metering arrangements.
3. Capital Improvements and Roof Replacement: Provides upfront capital to subsidize roof repairs, replacements, or other capital improvements. This is bundled with solar lease or PPA arrangements at no additional cost to property owners.
4. Solar Project Investment Returns: Company invests raised capital and existing operating portfolio returns to assume upfront construction and operations risks. Generates returns through solar renewable energy credits (SRECs), tax equity investments, and long-term energy production over 15-20 year project lifecycles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

New Columbia Solar finances, designs, installs, owns, and operates commercial and industrial solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on rooftops, parking canopies, and ground-mounted sites for property owners in the Washington, DC metro area. The company delivers solar projects through three primary financial structures — Fixed Lease Payments, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and Capital Improvements Financing (roof replacement bundled with solar) — supported by long-term Operations & Maintenance and asset management services.

Product overview

New Columbia Solar is a Washington, DC-based commercial and industrial solar energy company that develops, finances, designs, constructs, owns, and operates solar projects on properties across DC. The company operates a services business model (not a single software product) and provides a portfolio of solar products organized around three core financial structures: Fixed Lease Payments (where NCS exports energy to the grid and pays property owners a lease), Power Purchase Agreements (where property owners receive discounted electricity at 30–90% below utility rates), and Capital Improvements Financing (upfront subsidies for roof replacements bundled with solar). These financial offerings are delivered through six distinct installation types: Ballast Roof Mount, Attached Flat Roof Mount, Pitched Roof Mount, Parking Garage Canopy, Surface Lot Canopy/Carport, and Ground Mount. The company also operates a dedicated Solar for All program in partnership with DC DOEE and DCSEU to serve low-income residents, and provides ongoing Operations & Maintenance and Asset Management services over the lifetime of each installation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fixed Lease Payments

Quantifiable outcome

• Property owners can receive 30-90% discounted electricity rates compared to current utility rates
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• CleanChoice EnergymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2019Partnership to complete 1 MW community solar portfolio serving nearly 200 DC residents. CleanChoice manages project subscriptions, billing, and customer experience while NCS develops, builds, owns, operates, and maintains projects for 20 years.
• Arcadia PowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2018Partnership launched March 2018 to make community solar accessible for all DC residents. First privately-funded community solar project in DC with no credit checks, no cancellation penalties, and no long-term contracts. Arcadia handles billing platform and customer subscriptions while NCS builds and operates systems.
• Fortis WarrantymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership ensuring roof is solar-ready before installation. Fortis provides commercial roof warranties backed by Lloyd's of London, operating in 48 states and 6 countries. Partnership supports 20+ year solar installations with bankable roof warranties.
• Quest RenewablesmajorTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership for solar carport installations using Quest's innovative canopy systems. Enables long-span parking lot canopies maximizing solar production. Featured at Robert Siegel property installation.
• Root + BranchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partner for George Washington University project. Organization focused on renewable energy and community development. Partnership structured through Neighborhood Solar Equity (NSE) affiliate LLC.
• Community Renewable EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolar developer helping low-income residents and nonprofits access solar. Co-developed GWU project with NCS, enabling community solar benefits for income-qualified District residents.
• GOT Electric, LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerElectrical contractor responsible for installing the George Washington University solar system across five campus buildings.
• PEER Consultants, P.C.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner41-year-old environmental and civil engineering firm partnered on Lightview Cooperative Solar for All project. Identified 30+ low-income residents to receive solar benefits at no cost. Led by Dr. Lilia A. Abron, P.E., BCEE.
• Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)minorOthersNational trade association for solar industry. Company collaborates on policy advocacy and industry development initiatives.
• Chesapeake Solar and Storage Association (CHESSA)minorOthersRegional trade association for solar and storage in the Chesapeake region. CEO Mike Healy serves in executive and advisory positions.
• Clean Energy Leaders Institute (CELI)minorOthersOrganization training future talent and increasing diversity in clean energy industry. NCS supports through partnership and community programs.
• Renewables ForwardminorOthersIndustry organization where CEO Mike Healy serves in executive/advisory capacity. Focused on advancing renewable energy deployment and workforce development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Standard Solar: Standard Solar is a Maryland-based C&I and community solar developer and owner/operator that finances, installs, and operates solar projects via PPAs and leases — closely mirroring New Columbia Solar's full-lifecycle developer-operator model in the same Mid-Atlantic region.
• Pivot Energy: Pivot Energy is a Denver-based C&I and community solar developer with a developer-operator model and PPA/lease financing structures, comparable to NCS in financing approach and project development methodology.
• ForeFront Power: ForeFront Power develops, finances, owns, and operates distributed solar and storage for commercial, public sector, and nonprofit customers using PPA structures — directly comparable to NCS's commercial, school, and nonprofit customer mix.
• Nautilus Solar Energy: Nautilus Solar Energy is a distributed-generation solar developer and owner-operator operating across the U.S., using lease and PPA structures on commercial and community solar assets — directly comparable to NCS's project finance and asset ownership model.
• Solar Landscape: Solar Landscape is a Northeast-based C&I and community solar developer focused on rooftop, carport, and ground-mount installations in NJ and surrounding markets — directly relevant to NCS given the New Jersey expansion and similar installation types and customer base.
• BlueWave Solar: BlueWave Solar develops community solar, commercial solar, and solar-plus-storage projects with a strong policy and equity focus (similar to NCS's Solar for All work), using lease/PPA structures and serving institutional and low-income customer segments.
• Dimension Energy: Dimension Energy is a community solar and C&I solar developer with project finance sophistication and developer-operator ambitions — closely aligned with NCS's community solar focus and developer-operator evolution.

Emerging players

• Groundswell: Groundswell is a community solar developer focused on serving low-to-moderate income customers — directly comparable to NCS's Solar for All program in mission, customer base, and community solar project structure.

Broad incumbents

• Generate Capital: Generate Capital is a large-scale infrastructure financier and owner-operator of distributed solar and resilience assets — comparable as a broader incumbent in the same developer-operator space where NCS operates.
• Sunrun: Sunrun is the largest U.S. residential solar lease/PPA operator with growing commercial exposure — a broad incumbent that competes for installer talent, tax equity, and commercial customers in markets overlapping with NCS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NCS_Solar
• Facebookfacebook.com/newcolumbiasolar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-columbia-solar
• Instagraminstagram.com/newcolumbiasolar/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Columbia Solar