D.C. property owners earn more with community solar rooftop leasing

Washington, D.C.’s Community Renewable Energy Facility (CREF) framework enables commercial property owners to lease rooftop space to solar developers and generate predictable, long‑term income. Projects interconnect with Pepco and deliver bill credits to subscribers under Community Net Metering. Owners can unlock new NOI with no CapEx and minimal operational burden while supporting the District’s clean energy goals.

Get a free rooftop evaluation
Row of commercial rooftop solar panels on a D.C. warehouse participating in the Pepco Community Renewable Energy Facility (CRE) program, generating clean power for Community Net Metering subscribers.

Trusted by the world’s leading real estate owners

At&t logo
Tishman Speyer company logo
Micheals company logo
JP morgan company logo
At&t logo
Micheals company logo
JP morgan company logo
At&t logo
Tishman Speyer company logo
JP morgan company logo

Why D.C. property owners are turning to community solar

D.C. is one of the country’s most advanced distributed solar markets, pairing a mature CREF policy with a strong Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) market. The District targets 100% renewable electricity by 2032, with a dedicated in‑District solar carve‑out, creating durable demand for local rooftop generation and competitive lease bids for hosts.

Aerial view of a Washington DC warehouse rooftop covered with a Community Renewable Energy (CRE) solar array leased through the District’s commercial rooftop solar program.

Benefits of commercial rooftop solar leasing in D.C.

arrow-svg
arrow-svg

Benefits of commercial rooftop solar leasing in D.C.

Benefit
What It Means for Building Owners
Guaranteed income
20–25 years of predictable lease payments of up to $5 per square foot annually.
Zero capex, zero opex
Developers cover design, construction, and O&M.
ESG value
Supports net-zero commitments and boosts GRESB scores
Tenant & investor appeal
Sustainability-focused tenants and capital providers value solar
arrow-svg
arrow-svg

Why D.C. property owners partner with Lumen Energy

Unlike solar developers, Lumen works exclusively for property owners, sitting on your side of the table and ensuring your returns—not the developer’s—come first. Our team brings deep D.C. market expertise, with a clear understanding of state regulations, utility programs, and community solar compliance.

We provide portfolio-scale analysis, helping you evaluate dozens of properties at once and uncovering the best solar opportunities. Through our network of vetted developers, you gain access to competitive bids that maximize rooftop value. We also offer legal and regulatory support, making it simple to navigate D.C. solar policies with confidence.

With a local focus across NoMa, Capitol Riverfront, Ivy City, and beyond, Lumen Energy ensures you capture every incentive and opportunity available in D.C.’s solar market.

Utility-scale switchyard at a Pepco-interconnected D.C. community solar site, showing transformers and switchgear that route clean power into the District’s grid for Community Net Metering credits.

"Lumen Energy guided us through the new Community Solar program. Our Edison warehouse now generates $50,000 annually while powering local families."

Michael R
Industrial property owner, NJ

"Lumen made the leasing process seamless."

Sarah T
CRE Manager, NJ

"With Lumen’s platform, we quickly assessed multiple rooftops across New Jersey. Solar leasing is now a key revenue driver."

David L
Portfolio Manager, NJ

“Lumen Energy simplified the D.C. rooftop leasing process and got us the most competitive bids. We’re receiving a yearly roof lease payment of $50K.”

DC PM, Nuveen

D.C. solar incentives and programs for commercial property

Incentive / Program
Benefit
Source
Community Renewable Energy Facilities (CREF) under Community Net Metering (CNM)
Enables grid‑export projects with subscriber bill credits and host roof leases
Pepco CREF overview
Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)
Revenue to project owners from in‑District solar generation, supporting higher lease bids
DC DOE SRECs
Federal ITC – Section 48
Federal tax credit to project owners; boosts developer project value and lease capacity
eCFR: Investment Credit
arrow-svg
arrow-svg

How it works

Start with a free property assessment using satellite imagery to analyze the the solar potential of your roofs. Get a custom financial analysis with projections for revenue growth, property value increases, and tenant savings. We then put your building to bid so you receive competitive offers from pre-vetted rooftop solar developers in DC. Our experts offer lease negotiation advising to secure optimal terms under DC community solar rules. Enjoy worry-free installation and ongoing management—developers handle the work while you collect steady revenue.

Infographic-style graphic for community solar roof top installation in New Jersey

Serving properties across the District

Major markets

NoMa, Capitol Riverfront, Capitol Hill, Union Market, Ivy City
Downtown, Golden Triangle, West End, Foggy Bottom
Georgetown, Navy Yard, Southwest Waterfront
Brookland, Edgewood, Fort Totten, Petworth

Industrial corridors and hubs

New York Ave NE corridor, Brentwood, Ivy City, Buzzard Point logistics
Rail and warehouse clusters along Bladensburg Rd NE and Queens Chapel Rd NE

Utilities covered

Pepco (D.C.)
Not sure if your rooftop qualifies? Contact us for a free evaluation.
Mid-Atlantic regional map highlighting Washington D.C. and surrounding Pepco service territory, illustrating optimal corridors for Community Renewable Energy Facility (CRE) development and Community Net Metering participation.

FAQ

What is D.C.’s community solar program?
Washington, D.C. enables Community Renewable Energy Facilities (CREFs) under Community Net Metering, allowing grid‑export projects to credit subscribers on Pepco bills; the District pairs this with an in‑District solar carve‑out and the DOEE Solar for All initiative targeting bill savings for income‑qualified households.
What is the difference between rooftop leasing and community solar?
Rooftop leasing is the means by which community solar developers secure space to generate power. Developers rent roof space from property owners to install solar panels, creating the energy supply that serves community solar subscribers.
How much can I earn?
Lease revenue depends on roof size, interconnection costs, utility territory, and market demand. Lumen benchmarks expected lease rates for each property and then puts the property to competitive bid across our pre-vetted network of experienced solar developers. Enter your address here to see how much money your property could make.
Do tenants need to be involved?
Not directly. Developers manage the systems; tenants may receive energy credits as a bonus.
What are eligibility requirements?
Large, structurally suitable, low-shade roofs near available interconnection capacity served by PEPCO are ideal. Industrial, logistics, and big-box retail assets are common hosts.
How does new legislation help?
Expanded community solar capacity, faster interconnections, and more eligible properties mean higher potential returns.
What if I sell my property?
Leases are transferable and often increase property resale value.

Now is the time to capitalize on D.C.’s CREF market

With the creation of the permanent community solar program and rising demand for clean energy, your rooftop can become a major revenue driver. Join other D.C. property owners already earning six figures annually from solar leasing. To get in touch with our D.C. team email dc@getlumen.com

Get a free rooftop evaluation
Maryland warehouse rooftop community-solar array—5 MW system installed under BGE & Pepco programs—showing commercial property owners how PSC Maryland community-solar leasing turns unused roof space into low-to-moderate-income clean-energy credits.