SPURR PAVE Program
Newly launched aggregated procurement program shortens procurement for vehicle electrification projects by up to 75%
Designed for California public agencies: cities, counties, K-12, higher ed, special districts, and more.
Hear from Tracy Unified School District about the process of working with SPURR and ForeFront Power on a portfolio of projects that incorporates solar power and EV charging stations.
Learn more about this SPURR program in the program launch press release.
Learn more about this SPURR program in the program launch press release.
Streamlined Procurement Process
Flexible Financing, Including No Upfront Cost Options
Pre-Negotiated Terms & Conditions
Expertise You Can Trust
School Project for Utility Rate Reduction (SPURR) is a joint powers authority formed in 1989 to help the California public sector control and reduce utility expenses. Programs include solar/storage, LED lighting, natural gas, and more.
In 2017, ForeFront Power became the proud winner of SPURR’s Renewable Energy Aggregated Procurement (REAP) Program competitive RFP that allows schools, colleges, and public agencies in California to save time and money on their procurement and energy costs. The ForeFront Power team has now worked with 120+ California public agencies.
“ForeFront Power’s bid response was incredibly comprehensive when it came to pricing, flexible delivery options to meet public agency product and financing needs, as well as ADA compliance and other accessibility considerations. Their team showed great understanding of and experience with guiding California public agencies through complicated projects.”
– Charlie Benzyk, SPURR PAVE technical expert
Resources
[Webinar] PAVE the Way: Electrify Your Fleets with New SPURR EV Charging Program
SPURR Electric Vehicles and Site Electrification (PAVE) Program
[Webinar] Fleet Electrification: Deep Dive Into CA Policy & How To Get Funded? feat. CARB
CARB Zero-Emission Vehicle Incentives and the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation
Interested in learning more?
We would love to discuss how our solutions might be a fit for your organization. Contact one of our solar, storage, or e-mobility experts today:
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice
A Priority At ForeFront Power
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) are a priority at ForeFront Power.
Since 2020, pursuing a programmatic DEIJ initiative has been a focal point for the organization, with senior leadership support and internal benchmarking against the industry as foundational components, followed by company policy changes, the development of new programs, and implementing ongoing trainings.
ForeFront Power is now Silver-certified through the award-winning DEIJ certification program designed by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Leveraging its Diversity Best Practices Guide and other evidence-based materials, SEIA and third-party DEIJ experts created a program that rewards companies for making progress and taking actionable steps on these fronts. Largely thanks to ForeFront Power’s longstanding prioritization of such initiatives, the company was the first in the solar industry to achieve Silver status and expects to soon achieve Gold status. For more on this certification, visit SEIA’s website.
In this August 2022 SOapbox Podcast episode, ForeFront Power CEO, Michael Smith, and Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Rachel McLaughlin, discuss with Mindy Prefling of Spencer Ogden, a renewable energy recruiting agency, several aspects of ForeFront Power’s commitment to DEIJ efforts.
Sample Initiatives
ForeFront Power is committed as an organization to fostering diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just environments–both within and outside its figurative four walls. Our process is ongoing, and below are a few examples of initiatives we’ve begun undertaking.
Recruiting & Hiring Practices
- Conscious & unconscious bias trainings for all staff
- Trainings for hiring managers on mitigating bias in the interview process
- Posting open positions on job boards that attract diverse talent
- Strongly encouraging hiring managers to shortlist a diverse group of qualified candidates
Company Policies
- Flexible work and office arrangements
- Generous time off policies, including:
- Paid vacation + paid sick leave
- Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave for birth giver
- 6 weeks paid parental leave for baby bonding time for any new parent
In the Community
- Delivering renewable energy for a public sector customer base that serves diverse communities
- Investing in workforce development opportunities that prioritize BIPOC folks, tribal entities, veterans, and more
- Staff volunteering includes efforts benefitting the LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and other communities
Staff Insights
It is our people who create and uphold the culture and values of ForeFront Power. Click to capture a glimpse into the lives and diverse perspectives of ForeFront Power employees in the blog series, We Are ForeFront.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy Statement
ForeFront Power is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Our human capital is the most valuable asset we have. The diversity of our workforce is essential and we are committed to diversity and inclusion throughout our company to ensure a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and skills to provide better solutions, drive innovation and creativity, and enhance decision making.
We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.
ForeFront Power’s diversity initiatives are applicable—but not limited—to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; social and recreational programs; layoffs; and terminations.
Diversity is a mission imperative and we are continuously focusing on creating a culture of inclusion that values each individual and promotes collaboration and fairness. Our diversity plan includes the following objectives:
- Secure a high-performing workforce drawn from diverse locations and backgrounds.
- Create a culture that encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness to enable individuals to contribute to their full potential, feel valued, and supported.
- Embracing the representation of all groups and employee perspectives.
- Work/life balance through flexible work schedules to accommodate employees’ varying needs.
- Employer and employee contributions to the communities we serve to promote a greater understanding and respect for diversity.
- Respectful communication and cooperation between all employees
All employees of ForeFront Power have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect at all times. All employees are expected to exhibit conduct that reflects inclusion during work, at work functions on or off the work site, and at all other company-sponsored and participative events. All employees are also required to attend and complete diversity awareness training to enhance their knowledge to fulfill this responsibility.
Employees who believe they have been subjected to any kind of discrimination that conflicts with the company’s diversity policy and initiatives should seek assistance from a manager or an HR representative.
Ensuring a diverse and inclusive workforce enables our company to be more responsive to our clients and better equipped to fulfill our mission. Achieving diversity and inclusion at our company is a team effort and we expect and encourage employees to contribute to this goal. Together, we support a workplace that offers every individual the opportunity to attain professional goals and contribute to accomplishing our mission.
Welcome to NJSBA
Drop your name into our virtual "bowl" for a chance to win a $45 gift card!
Who is ForeFront Power?
ForeFront Power is a leading solar energy provider to schools around the country. We provide school districts with the maximum potential savings from solar available on the market today though a power purchase agreement (PPA), while providing the highest quality installation with the least risk.
With over 400 megawatts (MW) of operational projects with schools, our team has the capability to transform your district’s solar installations beyond just energy production and savings.
Join a Local Community Solar Project in National Grid Territory
Reduce your operating costs without any on-site impacts.
Business owners in National Grid’s utility service territory have a unique opportunity to join one of our solar farms to reduce operating costs without any on-site impacts. Plus, ForeFront Power has several projects that are shovel-ready to serve customers like you even if you rent your building.
What is this program?
The Value of Distributed Energy Resources Program allows you to consume up to 40% of the output from a local solar farm. We provide electricity to the utility and your facilities remain connected to the grid. Our team then works behind the scenes with National Grid to make sure that your bill receives credits for your portion of the solar farm’s production.
- No Upfront Cost or Investment
- Reduce Electricity Costs
- No Panels at Your Property
Why Community Solar in New York?
Lower Your Bill
The power generated by your local solar farm is connected into the utility grid, delivering renewable power to your existing utility provider. Signing up is easy and there is no impact to your facilities.
Avoid Your Roof
Your local solar farm is located at an off-site location in your community, eliminating the need for any panels on your facility’s roof. Plus, your portion is sized to suit your needs.
Support The Community
As a subscriber of a local solar project, you can be a community leader, joining other local households and businesses that want the benefits of solar through an easy adoption process.
Go Green
By joining a Community Solar project, you are supporting the growth of renewable
energy across New York. That means cleaner electricity in your area and progress toward State goals.
Experience You Can Trust
Since 2003, the ForeFront Power team has helped businesses, public agencies, and households reduce their electricity costs across New York. Our projects total more than 75 megawatts of clean, reliable solar energy.
“New Yorkers are continuing to benefit from the State’s leadership in renewable energy policy development and execution.”
– Paul Walker, Co-CEO of ForeFront Power.
In January 2019, we announced that our first Community Solar projects in New York are operational and providing clean, renewable electricity to subscribers across National Grid and Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) service territories.
The nine projects, representing 27 megawatts (MW) of capacity, are the first of a portfolio of over 75 MW across New York expected to be complete by the end of 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sites work for the VDER Program?
Any site that resides in the same utility service territory and grid load zone as the solar project is qualified for the VDER Program. If you’re reading this, ForeFront Power already has shovel-ready projects in your area.
Will my energy use be affected?
No. This is purely a financial transaction where the credits you receive are applied as an offset against your normal utility bills for on-site energy usage. The VDER Program will not impact your energy consumption (kWh) or demand charges (kW).
May credits be used across multiple sites?
Absolutely. One of the strengths of this model is that the VDER Program credits can be applied to multiple sites as long as those sites reside in the same utility service territory and grid load zone. You can re-allocate the credits on an annual basis. This flexibility removes the risk associated with site closings
How many credits should I buy?
Taking your current load and organizational risk profile into account, ForeFront Power will work with you to properly size the amount of credits needed to make a sizable impact on your energy bills.
Interested in learning more?
We would love to discuss how our solutions might be a fit for your organization. Contact one of our solar, storage, or e-mobility experts today:
Solar Made Easy for Public Sector with SPURR
Even cities and counties can benefit.
Hear from Annie Secrest, the Energy and Water Coordinator from San Luis Obispo County, about their new solar projects and their procurement process with SPURR and ForeFront Power.
What is SPURR?
It’s easier than ever to adopt solar and energy storage in California.
School Project for Utility Rate Reduction (SPURR) is a joint powers authority dedicated to helping the California public sector control and reduce utility expenses.
ForeFront Power is the proud winner of SPURR’s Renewable Energy Aggregated Procurement (REAP) Program competitive RFP that allows schools, colleges, and public agencies in California to save time and money on their procurement and energy costs.
The REAP Program provides pre-negotiated contracts, industry leading pricing, and standardized terms.
Any public agency in California can benefit.
No Upfront Costs or Use of Bond Funds
Streamlined Procurement Process
Pre-Negotiated PPA Fixed Rates for 20 years
Standardized Contract Terms and Conditions
Experience You Can Trust
Since 2015, the SPURR Renewable Energy Aggregated Procurement (REAP) program and the ForeFront Power team have helped over 20 school districts and municipalities procure more than 50 MW of clean solar power across more than 100 sites.
“We are thrilled that so many schools, municipalities, and county offices are saving time, effort, and money by using our procurement process. SPURR strives to offer clear, fair, and competitively-sourced terms and conditions that allow for easy sourcing.”
– Michael Rochman, Managing Director of SPURR.
Interested in learning more?
We would love to discuss how our solutions might be a fit for your organization. Contact one of our solar, storage, or e-mobility experts today:
Subscribe to a Local New York Solar Project
Businesses can join, too.
Check out our blog to learn about how businesses can join a local project in New York. A new program called Community Distributed Generation (CDG) isn’t just for households.
Choose Your Utility
ForeFront Power has partnered with Solstice™ to manage customer enrollment for our community solar projects in Central Hudson’s service territory.
Solstice™ brings affordable Community Solar to 80% of Americans who cannot, or don’t want to install a rooftop system. With an A+ rating on the BBB, Solstice was founded on the belief that every American household can be powered by affordable renewable energy. To view available projects, and calculate your savings, follow the link below.
ForeFront Power has partnered with Arcadia Power to manage customer enrollment for our community solar projects in National Grid’s (Niagara Mohawk) service territory.
Arcadia Power believes that homeowners and renters are long overdue for a new approach to energy – one that puts them first. Arcadia Power’s digital transformation of the traditional energy utility gives everyone a chance to conveniently tap into clean energy, save, track their energy usage and impact, view their bills, and more. To join, follow the link below.
ForeFront Power has partnered with Arcadia Power to manage customer enrollment for our community solar projects in NYSEG’s service territory.
Arcadia Power believes that homeowners and renters are long overdue for a new approach to energy – one that puts them first. Arcadia Power’s digital transformation of the traditional energy utility gives everyone a chance to conveniently tap into clean energy, save, track their energy usage and impact, view their bills, and more. To join, follow the link below.
ForeFront Power has partnered with Solstice™ to manage customer enrollment for our community solar projects in Orange & Rockland’s service territory.
Solstice™ brings affordable Community Solar to 80% of Americans who cannot, or don’t want to install a rooftop system. With an A+ rating on the BBB, Solstice was founded on the belief that every American household can be powered by affordable renewable energy. To view available projects, and calculate your savings, follow the link below.
ForeFront Power has partnered with Arcadia Power to manage customer enrollment for our community solar projects in Rochester Gas & Electric’s service territory.
Arcadia Power believes that homeowners and renters are long overdue for a new approach to energy – one that puts them first. Arcadia Power’s digital transformation of the traditional energy utility gives everyone a chance to conveniently tap into clean energy, save, track their energy usage and impact, view their bills, and more. To join, follow the link below.
No Upfront Cost
No Panels At Home
Easy Sign Up Process
Save Money
Save on Electricity
The power generated by each community solar site will be interconnected into the utility grid, delivering renewable power to your utility provider. Your billing and subscription details are managed by Arcadia Power.
Support Your Community
As a subscriber of a local solar project, you can be a community leader, joining other local businesses and residents that want the benefits of community solar.
Go Green With Solar
By joining a community solar project, you are supporting the growth of renewable energy across the State of New York. That means cleaner electricity in your local area.
How It Works
Interested in learning more?
We would love to discuss how our solutions might be a fit for your organization. Contact one of our solar, storage, or e-mobility experts today:
