Commercial Solar
Sycamore & Oak
A community-led development in Washington, D.C.’s Congress Heights neighborhood paired new solar power with a green job training program for local residents.
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Washington, D.C
Location
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322
Panels
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140 kW
System Size
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August 2025
Completed
Sycamore & Oak is a community-led development in Washington, D.C.’s Congress Heights neighborhood, built on the historic grounds of the former St. Elizabeths East Campus. At its center is a 22,000-square-foot Retail Village supporting Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurship in Ward 8. GRID Alternatives partnered with Sycamore & Oak to bring solar power to the site alongside a green job training program.
GRID’s installation lowers energy costs for the small businesses and entrepreneurs operating at Sycamore & Oak. At the same time, a cohort of local trainees from historically underrepresented communities installed the solar array themselves, gaining hands-on, credentialed experience in solar installation, electrical safety, and construction trades, along with certifications to help them pursue long-term careers in clean energy.
GRID sees the Sycamore & Oak partnership as a model for pairing climate action with economic mobility: a solar array that lowers costs for local businesses, and a training program that builds careers for Ward 8 residents, growing from the same roots.
Project Photos
What we brought to Sycamore & Oak
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System Design & Engineering
GRID brought solar power to Sycamore & Oak, working alongside a cohort of local trainees to install the array.
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Workforce Development
A cohort of local trainees from historically underrepresented communities installed the solar array themselves, gaining credentialed experience in solar installation, electrical safety, and construction trades.
