Community Energy

What Community Energy does

Community Energy is a US-based renewable energy project developer that pioneered utility-scale solar deployment in the United States across more than 20 years of operating history. The company originates, develops, and structures utility-scale and community-scale solar projects — using single-axis tracker technology, fixed-tilt racking systems, crystalline silicon PV panels, and battery storage integration — across at least 15 states including Virginia, Colorado, Minnesota, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Massachusetts, New York, and Indiana. Flagship assets include the Amazon Solar Farm – Eastern Shore (80 MW AC, the first grid-scale solar project in Virginia) and Amazon Solar Farm Virginia – Southampton (100 MW AC, the largest solar farm constructed in Virginia), both supplying Amazon Web Services data centers under long-term PPAs. Other notable projects include Comanche Solar (120 MW AC, Colorado), North Star Solar (100 MW AC, Minnesota, the largest solar facility in the Midwest), Butler Solar (103 MW AC, Georgia), the Lafayette Solar Gardens community-solar portfolio, and multi-project portfolios in New Jersey (37 MW across seven sites) and North Carolina (103 MW across 28 sites).

Name

Community Energy

Legal name

Community Energy Solar, LLC

Website

https://communityenergyinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Community Energy is a US-based utility-scale solar developer with 20+ years of history and 3+ GW developed. AES Clean Energy acquired its 10 GW pipeline in December 2021. It structures long-term PPAs and sells developed projects to utilities, corporations, municipalities, and educational institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

PPA Origination, Structuring & Offtake Contracting (Physical/Financial, Sleeves) (EUAMAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA), Permitting, Environmental & Stakeholder Engagement (EIA/ESIA, Community Relations) (EUAMAAAB), Hybrid PPAs (Renewables + Storage) & Firm Renewable Products (EUAGADAI)

Keywords

• Utility-scale solar development
• Renewable energy projects
• Power purchase agreements
• Solar project development
• Clean energy origination

Headquarters

HQ city

Radnor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): Community Energy develops renewable energy projects and sells electricity through long-term Power Purchase Agreements to utilities, corporations, municipalities, and educational institutions. Revenue is generated from the sale of electricity under multi-year fixed-rate contracts that provide cost hedges against rising energy prices.
2. Project Development and Sale: Community Energy originates, develops, and sometimes sells completed projects to strategic buyers like Constellation (Exelon), Southern Power, and D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments. Projects are developed through competitive bid processes or direct development.
3. Project Buyer Relationships: Sell developed projects to project buyers, investors, and operators including Southern Power (Southern Company), Dominion Energy, D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, and Constellation/Exelon for construction and operation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Community Energy is a US renewable energy developer that originates, develops, and structures utility-scale solar photovoltaic projects. The company sells electricity through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to utilities, corporations, universities, and municipal energy buyers, and also sells completed projects to strategic project buyers such as AES, Constellation, Southern Power, and Dominion Energy.

Product overview

Community Energy is a renewable energy developer that pioneered utility-scale solar development in the United States over 20+ years. The company develops, originates, and structures utility-scale and community-scale solar projects throughout the United States. Their portfolio spans 19 named solar projects and portfolios including: the Amazon Solar Farm – Eastern Shore (80 MW, VA) and Amazon Solar Farm Virginia – Southampton (100 MW, VA) supplying AWS data centers; Comanche Solar (120 MW, CO) and North Star Solar (100 MW, MN) for Xcel Energy; Butler Solar (103 MW, GA) for Georgia Power; multiple municipal and educational institution projects (Vineland Solar, Clarkson Solar, Elizabethtown College Solar, Lafayette Solar Gardens); and multi-project portfolios in New Jersey (37 MW) and North Carolina (103 MW). Community Energy's solar development business was acquired by AES Clean Energy in December 2021. Their services include project development, power purchase agreement structuring, land stewardship, and community engagement for renewable energy projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Amazon Solar Farm - Eastern Shore An 80 MW (AC) utility-scale solar project in Accomack County, VA on the Delmarva Peninsula supplying Amazon Web Services data centers under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement.
• Amazon Solar Farm Virginia - Southampton A 100 MW (AC) solar project in Southampton County, VA supplying Amazon Web Services data centers under a long-term PPA. Built, owned and operated by Dominion Energy.
• Comanche Solar A 120 MW (AC) solar project in Pueblo, CO, selected by Xcel Energy through a competitive bid process to supply the majority of its solar generation portfolio in Colorado.
• North Star Solar A 100 MW (AC) solar project in Chisago County, MN providing Xcel Energy with a cost-effective solution to meet Minnesota's 1.5% solar energy requirement.
• Butler Solar A 103 MW (AC) solar project in Butler, GA, selected by Georgia Power through a competitive bid process and purchased by Southern Power (Southern Company).
• Clarkson Solar A 2 MW (AC) solar project hosted on land owned by Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY, with the university purchasing power through a long-term fixed-rate PPA.
• Elizabethtown College Solar A 2 MW (AC) solar project at Elizabethtown College in PA using fixed-tilt racking, supplying over 20% of the college's annual electricity needs through a 20-year PPA.
• Gateway Solar

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• AES CorporationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021AES acquired Community Energy's solar development business in December 2021, adding 10 GW of renewable projects to AES's growth pipeline. Community Energy joined AES Clean Energy to continue development efforts with industry-leading team.
• Southern Power (Southern Company)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2015Southern Power purchased the Butler Solar project (103 MW) developed by Community Energy through Georgia Power's competitive bid process.
• Dominion EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationDominion Energy built, owns and operates the Amazon Solar Farm Virginia - Southampton project (100 MW) in Southampton County, Virginia, developed by Community Energy.
• Constellation (Exelon)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConstellation, an Exelon company, acquired and operates Gateway Solar project developed by Community Energy. Also partnered on Keystone Solar project with retail marketing commitments.
• D.E. Shaw Renewable InvestmentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorD.E. Shaw Renewable Investments owns the North Star Solar Project (100 MW) in Minnesota, one of the largest solar facilities in the Midwest.
• Xcel EnergycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorXcel Energy selected Comanche Solar through competitive bid process and is the utility off-taker for North Star Solar, Lafayette Solar Gardens, and other projects.
• Buckeye Partners, L.P.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake County Solar East Chicago project located on industrial site owned and operated by Buckeye Partners, with feed-in tariff agreement through NIPSCO.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Invenergy: Invenergy is an independent, large-scale renewable energy developer that originates, constructs, and owns wind, solar, and storage projects across North America. It directly competes with Community Energy/AES Clean Energy in utility-scale solar development, hyperscaler PPA origination, and competitive utility RFPs.
• Silicon Ranch: Silicon Ranch is a Nashville-based independent solar developer focused on utility-scale solar and battery storage projects across the US. Like Community Energy, it competes for utility RFPs and corporate PPAs and develops projects for sale or long-term ownership.
• Lightsource bp: Lightsource bp is a global utility-scale solar developer and long-term asset owner that develops, finances, and operates solar farms and storage projects. It is a direct competitor on US solar IPP deals targeting utility off-takers and corporate buyers.
• EDF Renewables: EDF Renewables develops, builds, and operates utility-scale renewable energy projects (solar, wind, storage) in North America and globally. It is a major competitor in US utility-scale solar RFPs and large corporate PPAs, and similarly structures long-term off-take deals with utilities and hyperscalers.
• Pine Gate Renewables: Pine Gate Renewables is an independent utility-scale solar developer and operator headquartered in Asheville, NC, with active development across the US. It directly competes with Community Energy in utility-scale solar origination, siting, and PPA structuring.
• Avantus (formerly Duke Energy Renewables): Avantus is an independent utility-scale solar and storage developer spun out of Duke Energy, operating across the US. It is a direct peer that develops and operates renewable projects, competes on similar utility RFPs, and pursues corporate PPAs with hyperscalers and large energy buyers.

Broad incumbents

• NextEra Energy Resources: NextEra Energy Resources, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, is the world's largest renewable energy generator and a dominant utility-scale solar developer in the US. It is a broad incumbent in the same competitive bid space Community Energy/AES participates in, with substantially deeper financial resources and pipeline.
• Clearway Energy: Clearway Energy is a publicly-traded renewable energy yieldco that owns and operates utility-scale solar and wind assets in the US. It is a frequent acquirer of developed renewable projects and competes with Community Energy's strategic project buyers (D.E. Shaw, Southern Power, Constellation).

Others

• D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments: D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments is a major investor and owner of US utility-scale solar assets and a documented project buyer for Community Energy (North Star Solar). It is comparable as both a strategic acquirer of developed projects and as a market participant driving PPA pricing.
• AES Clean Energy: AES Clean Energy is AES Corporation's renewable energy development subsidiary that acquired Community Energy in December 2021. While it is the parent platform, its development pipeline, project portfolio, and team overlap fully with Community Energy's pre-acquisition activities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/commenergyinc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/communityenergyinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityEnergy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-energy-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/communityenergy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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 Community Energy