The Case for Clean Energy: GRESB Podcast with Lumen’s CEO on Incentives & On-Site Solar Opportunities
Solar, batteries, EV charging—these technologies hold the promise of generating new NOI, increasing tenant satisfaction, and mitigating utility cost inflation for commercial real estate owners. Yet, widespread adoption remains a challenge. Why? Because for most owners, the financial case hasn’t always been clear.
In the latest episode of The Pulse by GRESB, host Reid Morgan sits down with Peter Light, CEO & Co-founder of Lumen Energy, to break down the economic and operational realities of deploying on-site renewables across large commercial property portfolios.
Together, they explore:
- Why every building is different: Factors like lease structure, tenant mix, utility rates, and policy incentives impact financial viability. Owners need granular, property-level analysis to make informed decisions.
- The shifting economics of solar: Utility prices are rising as grid infrastructure investments climb, while solar and battery costs continue to fall leading to increasingly strong returns. Properties that didn’t pencil before are now becoming profitable.
- Solving the split incentive challenge: Innovative green lease amendments are helping landlords and tenants share data, making it easier to move forward with clean energy projects.
- The need for clarity: Owners don’t just need data—they need trusted, rigorous financial insights to confidently present renewable energy decisions to their investment committees and other key stakeholders.
The momentum for on-site renewables is building. But success starts with understanding where the opportunities lie—and having the right tools to act on them.
🎧 Listen now:
🔗 Spotify
🔗 Apple Podcasts
📺 Watch on YouTube
📖 Read the full transcript on GRESB
