Our partnerships: Community support, national non-profits, education & industry groups
The benefits we’re able to people, the planet and our industry are enhanced through collaborative initiatives with our partners. At Lightsource bp, we’re excited to support and work with organizations that share our desire to create a more sustainable, resilient and equitable world for present and future generations. Below we have highlighted some of our key partners who are helping us achieve these goals.
Investing in communities across the U.S.A.
We have a dedicated Community Relations team that works closely with local stakeholders to ensure that our solar projects bring benefits beyond generating clean electricity that improves air quality for healthier communities. We construct our solar farms with a view to strengthen rural economies, support underserved populations, promote solar education, foster environmental sustainability, and create partnerships.
For local communities that are home to our projects, we donated more than $515,000 in 2023. We encourage our team members to volunteer in these communities as well. You can learn about some of the organizations we have supported below.
If you would like to connect with one of our community relations managers, please email USCommunityRelations@Lightsourcebp.com.
Montgomery Area Food Bank
Fighting hunger and food insecurity in Alabama
Arkansas Monarch Conservation Partnership
Conserving habitat for pollinator species
The Arkansas Monarch Conservation Partnership (AMCP) is working to create, enhance and conserve habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinator species across the state. Due to habitat loss and other factors, including climate change, monarch populations have sharply declined over the last twenty years. So much so, that they are now included on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. That’s one reason why Lightsource bp and the AMCP are teaming up to create a haven for monarchs at Conway Solar at Happy, our utility-scale solar farm in White County, Arkansas. The 135MW solar farm will house a five-acre native pollinator garden with a high density of diverse plants, providing habitat and critical nectar for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Lightsource bp signed a memorandum of cooperation in February 2022, joining over two dozen other organizations who share in the partnership’s mission and vision.
HandsOn Bay Area
Empowering our employees to give back to the community during COVID
Care and Share
Fighting hunger and food insecurity in Southern Colorado
Since 2020, Lightsource bp has partnered with Care and Share food bank to support the Minnequa Elementary school, which is located in Pueblo, Colorado close to our Bighorn and Sun Mountain Solar projects. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on the community, including an increase in children who are suffering from hunger.
For the last three school years, Lightsource bp has been funding a food pantry – including fresh produce – as well as a snack program located at Minnequa Elementary in order to ensure the students and their families have every day access to food. The mission of the School Pantry Program is to help alleviate child hunger by providing food to neighbors in need at a convenient location- the school their children attend! The location of the pantry in the school provides a comfortable and familiar environment for students and their families to “shop” for the foods they like to eat and cook with.
For the 2020-21 school year, we sponsored a ‘Send Hunger Packing’ program at the school, where children were able to bring food home each week in pre-packaged backpacks.
United Way of Pueblo County
Connecting Colorado middle schoolers with positive role models
Henry County Healthy Communities
Improving quality of life near Bellflower Solar
Pulaski County Forward Thinking Leadership
Attracting new residents with affordable housing
Quail Forever, East Central Indiana Chapter
Helping local conservationists launch new initiatives
Rush County Community Foundation
Improving quality of life near Bellflower Solar
Upskill SB
Accessible solar job training
Adopt-A-Grandparent, Pointe Coupee Parish
Spreading joy to senior citizens
Lightsource bp supported the 2022 Adopt-a-Grandparent program in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, home to our Oxbow Solar project. The program brings holiday gifts to every nursing home resident in the Parish, and has provided 2,000 gifts in the last five years. Our donation supported holiday gifts for 200 residents of the LaCour House, Pointe Coupee Parish Healthcare and Lakeview Manor.
H.O.P.E. Ministry
Feeding families in need
In August 2023, a group of our team members spent their morning volunteering at H.O.P.E. Ministry of Pointe Coupee Parish. Our team arrived at H.O.P.E.’s food distribution location where 6,000 pounds of food was delivered just that morning! Our team worked alongside the H.O.P.E. team to sort the delivery and prepare bags of food for the families and individuals who need it most in Pointe Coupee Parish, home to our Oxbow Solar project – the largest solar farm in Louisiana!
Market at the Mill
Encouraging Louisiana community members to shop local
For several years, Lightsource bp has been a sponsor of the “Market at the Mill” event in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, where our Oxbow Solar project is located. According to the event website, “The Cottonseed Oil Mill dates back to 1900 and operated until 1979. It was largely vacant and unused until 2011, when the City of New Roads restored the building to host the first annual Market at the Mill. The event was so successful that it is now a biannual shopping extravaganza that has grown to 135 vendors, attracting up to 5,000 visitors throughout the weekend.”
New Roads Lions Club
Raising funds for local schools
Lightsource bp’s donation supported the New Roads Lions Club’s 2023 Mardi Gras Parade. 100% of proceeds from the annual parade benefit the local Pointe Coupee Parish schools. Lightsource bp’s Oxbow Solar project is located in the Parish, near the city of New Roads.
Pointe Coupee Parish Parks & Recreation
Boosting sports tourism in Pointe Coupee Parish
Lightsource bp established a community fund to support construction of a baseball/softball facility in Pointe Coupee Parish, the home of our Oxbow Solar Project. The fund was used to build concessions and bathroom facilities, helping the community attract more baseball and softball teams to the area for tournaments and other events. Increasing sports traffic with facility upgrades will allow the facility to become a far more impactful community asset, as it will be the direct cause of economic growth in the form of hotel stays, restaurant visits and more.
St. Landry Parish Veteran’s Memorial
Honoring veterans in St. Landry Parish
We have dedicated a community fund St. Landry Parish Community Fund, in the community home to our Prairie Ronde Solar project. We are working with your community members to ensure the fund is used for initiatives that benefit the community to address their needs and what matters most. As such, we have dedicated a portion of the fun toward a Welcome Center at the St. Landry Parish Veterans Memorial. The space will feature information, displays and visuals for visitors of the center, which honors parish veterans who served in wars over the last century.
AGAPE
Volunteering to “fill in the gaps”
Espy Fire Department, Lightstreet Community Fire Company & West Manchester Township Fire
New equipment for Pennsylvania volunteer firefighters
Lightsource bp has donated to help volunteer firefighters purchase new equipment at three departments in Pennsylvania, which serve the areas near several of our Cottontail Solar projects across the state.
Everyone’s Playground
Inclusive play for all
Everyone’s Playground is an all-inclusive, barrier free playground. It was created to accommodate children and others with special needs, disabilities, and other challenging conditions. The final phase of Everyone’s Playground is the addition of an ADA-compliant Comfort Station. This changing area and restroom facility will accommodate individuals and their caregivers with the latest personal needs and sanitary equipment, while insuring complete privacy. After two years of fundraising, the Comfort Station is finally complete, supported by a contribution from Lightsource bp.
Every consideration was given to the safety and convenience of the user in a friendly and home-like surrounding. The Comfort Station location is within steps of Everyone’s Playground, a picnic pavilion, fresh drinking water, and comfortable “Buddy Benches” snuggled among a grove of beautiful shade trees.
Walker Township Park District
New park infrastructure in Juniata County
Lightsource bp is supporting the installation of a new outdoor basketball court in at a Walker Township community park near the Cottontail Solar project in Juniata County, Pennsylvania.
York County Reentry Coalition
Connecting community members with resources after incarceration
Lightsource bp is supporting the York County Reentry Coalition, which develops partnerships with governmental agencies, the business community, faith-based entities and service providers to help reentrants through education, treatment, and ongoing skill development in York County, Pennsylvania, near part of our Cottontail Solar project.
Red River County Fire Association, Lamar County, Lamar Avenue Church of Christ & United Way of Lamar County
Supporting tornado relief near Impact Solar
Following a devastating tornado through Lamar County and the Red River Region of Texas in November 2022, Lightsource bp provided support to organizations aiding in disaster relief efforts. The impacted area neighbors our Impact Solar project in Deport, Texas.
- Our donation to the Red River County Fire Association supported local fire departments working in the communities most affected by the tornado.
- Our donation to Lamar County helped provide funds for temporary housing, as well as equipment and manpower to clean up debris following the disaster.
- Our donation to the church was used towards helping residents directly, providing housing, food and whatever else affected families may have needed.
- Our donation supported a United Way fund established to assist victims as they move into new housing by paying for a deposit and first month’s rent, utilities and other necessities.
Texan by Nature
Advancing conservation and business in partnership
Lightsource bp is a business member of Texan by Nature, which partners with industry to advance conservation opportunities in the Lone Star State. The group has connected us with organizations, experts and ideas to help create wildlife habitat, engage communities and boost biodiversity at our Texas solar farms.
Advancing knowledge and education with schools, universities and researchers
Our solar farms provide educational opportunities for local schools and universities, with Lightsource bp providing curriculum support, research opportunities, internships and site tours.
Riverview School District
Supporting STEM education
At Riverview High School in Searcy, Arkansas, Lightsource bp has supported the purchase of new and improved STEM education equipment over the last two school years. We have helped the district purchase new computers for the robotics program and esports team, as well as materials like DNA testing kits and anatomy models for the science program. The school is located 10 miles from our Conway Solar at Happy project. As the Conway Solar at Happy project progresses in the community, the district plans to bring students on site tours.
Minnequa Elementary
Providing opportunities for Colorado students
Lightsource bp first partnered with Minnequa Elementary in 2020, sponsoring a “Send Hunger Packing” program at the school with the Care & Share food bank. In 2021, Lightsource bp made an additional donation to the s a student activity fund, which provides students with after-school community excursions as experiential enrichment learning and as an incentive for academic achievement. Through our partnership with Care and Share, we’re also sponsoring an ongoing food pantry at the school that includes fresh produce and snack program in order to ensure the students and their families have everyday access to food. Minnequa Elementary is located within a few miles of Lightsource bp’s Bighorn and Sun Mountain solar farms.
Pollinator Habitat Aligned with Solar Energy (PHASE) Study
Researching the benefits of pollinator conservation at Bellflower Solar
Merillville Schools
Grants for Indiana teachers
St. Landry Parish Schools
Engaging students in and out of the classroom
Lightsource bp has dedicated a St. Landry Parish Community Fund, in the home community of our Prairie Ronde Solar project. We are working with community members to ensure the fund is used for initiatives that benefit the community to address their needs and what matters most.
As such, a portion of the donation is allocated for local schools in St. Landry Parish, supporting purchases of classroom and extracurricular equipment and materials. For example, Lightsource bp is helping Family Worship Christian Academy purchase band instruments and music materials, a classroom SmartBoard, sports bleachers, STEM learning materials and student behavior incentives. Plaisance Middle School will use another portion of the fund to purchase new football helmets.
Italy Independent School District
Supporting life skills education
At the Italy Independent School District in Ellis County, Texas Lightsource bp made a 2022 holiday season donation to support renovations to special education facilities, where students with disabilities will have a place to practice and acquire independent life skills. The school is located near our Elm Branch and Briar Creek Solar projects.
Mississippi Delta Community College Capps Technology Center
Investing in the local workforce
With several solar farms under development in Mississippi, Lightsource bp believes it is important to invest in the local workforce. That is why we are funding a workforce training program in partnership with the Mississippi Delta Community College’s Capps Technology Center. The program will provide training in general construction and maintenance to help participants gain jobs in the solar energy industry.
Penncrest School District, Cambridge Springs Elementary & Cambridge Springs Boys Basketball Booster Club
Promoting play and physical activity with local schools
Lightsource bp has made donation to a new playground at the Cambridge Springs Elementary school. Developers Nick Basile and Elise McGrath visited the school to give an educational presentation about solar energy and share the good news during May 2023 assembly. During the presentation, they presented the PTO with a surprise donation to help make a bigger, better new playground possible for the school. Afterwards, students, staff and PTO members celebrated with ice cream and goodies.
“We’re beyond thankful for their generosity and wanting to be a part of our community that we all hold dear to our hearts,” a staff member told the local media following the event.
Lightsource bp is also supporting the purchase of new uniforms for the Cambridge Springs High School boys basketball team.
The schools serve students living near Lightsource bp’s Cottontail Solar farm sites in Venango and Washington Townships, as well as the Shorebird Solar Project in Cambridge Township.
NYSERDA with the American Solar Grazing Association
Researching the impacts of agrivoltaics
We know that co-locating sheep on solar farms is a win-win-win for grazers, developers and the planet, but how do we measure the impacts? Our long-time partners at the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA) are conducting a two-year study at more than 30 operational solar grazing sites across the Northeastern US, including at Lightsource bp’s Nittany 1 project in Pennsylvania. The study, sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), is examining both the environmental and economic impacts of sheep grazing on solar farms, a prevalent form of agrivoltaics.
Penn State University
Driving educational opportunities for university students
Penn State and Lightsource bp have formed an innovative partnership designed to be a national model in sustainability. As part of our partnership, Lightsource bp is providing real-world hands-on experience for PSU students through research grants, internships and classroom projects.
- To date, Lightsource bp has provided three long-term research grants to PSU students and faculty
- We sponsored a hands-on capstone design project for PSU engineering students, providing mentorship from the Lightsource bp team
- Our Communications team has partnered with a Sustainable Marketing course at PSU two times to involve students in real-world projects
- Our Business Development team led a semester-long project for students in an MBA program
- We have provided internships to at least 7 PSU students to date, one of whom has since become a full-time employee
Shippensburg University
Studying ecological impacts of solar
Researchers from the Shippensburg University Geography & Earth Science Department are conducting research at our Nittany 1, 2 and 3 solar farms to learn how converting farmland to solar fields affects soil properties, carbon dynamics and biodiversity. Dr. Russell Hedberg and Dr. Claire Jantz are leading the inquiry into the nexus of ecosystem services, future food production, and renewable energy needs.
York Day Early Learning
Serving children of low-income families with high-quality early learning
York Day Early Learning is a nonprofit high-quality early learning center serving low-income families in the City of York. Through a donation from Lightsource bp, York Day was able to refresh their facility with new paint throughout the building. This facelift brought significant life back to the building which is used by over one hundred children and families each day.
Partnering with national organizations
Mission-Driven non-profits and NGOs are working hard to make the world a better place. Fighting climate change. Protecting imperiled species. Increasing job access for underserved populations. We are proud to partner with numerous national organizations whose values and mission reflect our own. Learn about some of these groups below.
24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact
Joining the movement for sustainable energy 24/7
We have joined a global group of companies, policymakers, investors, and organizations on a mission to realize a 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy future for all. This means that every kilowatt-hour of electricity consumption is met with carbon-free electricity sources. Through the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Compact, we will work together to develop and scale technologies, energy policies, procurement practices, and solutions to transform the broader energy system and enable rapid and cost-effective carbon-free energy — every hour, every day, everywhere.
Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund
Enhancing pollinator value with solar synergy
The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund has been partnering with solar energy developers since 2019, seeking to enhance the benefits of renewable energy by establishing conservation habitat at solar sites. In early 2023, the NGO announced a new Solar Synergy program, which provides multiple benefits to utility-scale solar developers seeking to cultivate high-quality pollinator habitats at their projects. Some of these benefits include high-value pollinator seed mixtures, extensive monitoring of pollinator health, carbon sequestration documentation and increased opportunity to produce honey at solar projects. Honeysuckle Solar in Indiana will be Lightsource bp’s first project to participate in the program.
GRID Alternatives
Helping make solar technology and job training accessible to underserved communities
Lightsource bp is a sponsor of GRID Alternatives, a nationwide non-profit organization that is making clean, affordable solar power and solar jobs accessible to low-income communities and communities of color.
Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI)
Ensuring that renewable energy and wildlife can thrive in tandem
The U.S. renewable energy industry must accelerate the pace at which clean generation is built, but this development has to be guided by a commitment to long-term sustainability. We’re proud to be part of the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute, which is advancing the science needed to answer complex questions about how this expansion can occur in tandem with conserving the natural environment.
Root & Rebound
Supporting low-income communities and communities of color harmed by mass incarceration
Lightsource bp is a sponsor of Root & Rebound, a national non-profit committed to restoring power and resources to the families and communities most harmed by mass incarceration through legal advocacy, public education, policy reform and litigation.
USA Renewable Energy Industry Groups and Trade Associations
Lightsource bp engages with industry associations across the United States to advance the energy transition. With a view to strengthen and grow the solar and energy storage industries, we are active leaders within numerous industry groups. Learn more about some of our partners below.
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
Helping build a strong solar industry to power America
Lightsource bp is on the Board of Directors of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association for the United States solar industry. We believe it is important for the solar industry to work together to support and accelerate solar energy around the country, in order to meet our industry-wide goal of achieving 30% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. Our participation and leadership within SEIA programs and committees helps us advance our own goals, while establishing best-practices for the industry.
For example, Lightsource bp is committed to managing our solar farms throughout their entire life cycle, including the responsible end-of-life management of solar equipment. The association has created a national PV recycling member-based program that aggregates the services offered by recycling vendors and PV manufacturers, making it easier to select a cost-effective and environmentally responsible end-of-life management solution. That means we can confidently utilize PV recycling facilities that have been fully vetted by SEIA – with the assurance that the panels will be processed here in the U.S., and that the facilities strive for maximum material recovery and second-life usage.
Additionally, Lightsource bp is participating in SEIA’s DEIJ Certification Program. As of 2022, we have earned Bronze Certification by taking actionable steps to advance our internal diversity practices in the United States.
American Clean Power (ACP)
Championing energy transformation in the U.S.A.
Lightsource bp is actively engaged with the American Clean Power Association, a leading federation of renewable energy companies advancing clean energy as America’s dominant power source. In 2021, Lightsource bp’s Bighorn Solar project was highlighted as part of the group’s #AmericanCleanPowerWeek campaign.
American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA)
Combining solar and agriculture
Lightsource bp is a sponsor of the American Solar Grazing Association. ASGA promotes grazing sheep on solar sites to maintain the land and provide an additional source of income to local farmers. Properly managed grazing can also improve soil health and increase the cycling of nutrients, carbon, water and energy.
Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA)
Customer-driven clean energy for all
Purchasing solar power enables organizations to meaningfully advance their global carbon reduction and renewable energy goals and, importantly, drive the transition to a low-carbon economy. Lightsource bp is a member of the Clean Energy Buyers Association, which brings together more than 300 energy customers, energy providers and non-profit organizations with a shared goal of achieving a 90% carbon-free U.S. electricity system by 2030.
Women of Renewable and Sustainable Energy (WRISE)
Ensuring diversity and equity within renewable energy
Lightsource bp is a sponsor of WRISE, a national nonprofit organization that imagines a transformed energy ecosystem where all people and our planet thrive.
Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) accelerates the transition to a sustainable and equitable energy future by igniting the collective power of community
Regional Industry Associations
Lightsource bp is engaged with industry groups working to advance solar and energy storage at the state or regional level, including:
- Advanced Power Alliance: A renewable energy and technology trade association working in 11 states across the southern United States and Great Plains region.
- Clean Grid Alliance: Clean Grid Alliance has been advocating for renewable energy for over 20 years, focusing in the MISO North interconnection region of the Midwestern United States.
- Colorado Solar & Storage Association: Advancing solar and storage deployments, highlighting emerging trends, and improving industry connections throughout the state of Colorado.
- Kentucky SEIA: KYSEIA is the Kentucky Chapter of the Solar Energy Industry Association, and the preeminent solar industry group in the state.
- MAREC Action: MAREC Action is a coalition of renewable energy developers, equipment manufacturers and public interest organizations working to promote renewable energy in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States.
- Utility Scale Solar Energy Coalition of Ohio: An association of solar developers operating in the state, the group’s mission is to provide transparency and education for Ohio communities, as well as advocate for public policy that will help advance the solar industry in Ohio. L
Kentucky Sheep & Goat Development Office
Lightsource bp is committed to advancing opportunities for co-located sheep farming on solar projects across the United States. In 2022, we partnered with the the Kentucky Sheep & Goat Development Office and Kentucky Sheep and Wood Producers Association to hold a “Solar Grazing 101” event as a participating sponsor. The event, attended by dozens of farmers and other stakeholders, provided practical information and resources for the basics of solar grazing and how to get started. Many of these resources, including presentations by Lightsource bp staff, can be found on the Solar Grazing page of the office’s website here.
Partner with us
At Lightsource bp, we’re excited to support and work with organizations in the communities that are home to our solar projects and also our offices. We seek partnerships with groups that share our desire to create a more sustainable, resilient and equitable world for present and future generations. If you represent a group interested in exploring a partnership with Lightsource bp, we would love to hear from you.
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Empowering economic development
Our solar projects help provide stable revenue for landowners as well as create jobs, generate property tax revenue, and bring operating budgets that are primarily spent in the area.
Empowering education
We value education and help bring real-world experiences to the classroom through funding for research, internships, capstone projects, solar training, and so much more.