Renewable energy is the future, and we’re doing our best to make sure everyone is a part of it. Our partnership with PODER Emma shows that solar energy doesn’t have to be a luxury, but a tool of community stability.

PODER Emma has spent years building a shield against displacement. They don’t just advocate for housing; they create tools and strategies to preserve the tight-knit nature of mobile home communities which keep families safe and rooted. With four total housing co-ops (and more on the way!), PODER is truly making an impact. When we started our work with them, we realized a shared common goal: to spread resilience.

Behind The Repower WNC Fund and Footprint Project

For a long time, the clean energy transition felt like something happening only on expensive new builds or luxury neighborhoods. At Sugar Hollow Solar, our mission is to help light the way to a greener world, and that means for everyone.

To make this goal a reality, we leveraged our Repower WNC Fund. Supported by our partners and Amicus Solar Cooperative, we designed this fund specifically for community-supporting projects. This fund helps bridge the gap that often prevents nonprofits and community-led organizations from accessing renewable energy. Footprint Project also played a significant role in this project. They donated not only panels, but provided sub-grants for “safe-harboring” (financial protection), and pulled in IronRidge to donate the racking. Every layer of these arrays was built off community support! We also want to highlight Invest Appalachia who supported the commercial installation through their innovative recoverable grant program.

Just as PODER Emma operates through this idea of “la milpa,” an indigenous method where corn, beans, and squash are planted together to thrive, our teams worked “milpa style.” Every layer of these arrays was built through community support, with each partner providing the protection and nutrients the project needed to grow.

Phase One: The Mobile Home Community Project

Our work together began in 2025. A common hurdle for owners of mobile homes is the structural liability, where traditional roof mounts are often not an option. Because of this, accommodating all neighborhoods can be difficult. With PODER, we were determined to find a way! The solution was collaboration: a committee proposed the prototype based on one resident’s self-built patio addition. To bring this to life, we worked with a team of architects and a representative from each housing co-op to ensure the design met the engineering requirements and specific needs of the residents. This group, alongside experts from Chispas (a worker-owned cooperative in the ecosystem and PODER Emma’s residential leadership team) developed the “Front Porch” model. By installing 15 panels on custom-built, individual porch roof structures, we created a stable foundation for the arrays without compromising the homes. This project alone gives energy independence to a multitude of families!

The first installation of the Front Porch model paired with a battery backup provided an essential hub to their community in the case of an outage!

Scaling the Vision: Commercial Installation

We then brought solar home to PODER’s community hub, installing 115 400W panels on a building that serves as an incubator for cooperatives and the heartbeat for neighborhood gatherings, celebrations, and educational classes. The building itself is cooperatively owned by the neighborhood real estate co-op, La Esperanza. During the participatory design process, solar was a feature that members were particularly excited about. It wasn't just an add-on, but a community-led priority. We knew the impact of this project would ripple far beyond the roofline; by neutralizing their power bill, we’re helping PODER redirect every cent away from utility companies and back into the people. Back into the community. Now every ray of sunshine literally powers the celebrations and vital work that keeps the PODER community rooted!

Beyond the Electric Bill

After Hurricane Helene, we saw that energy resilience is a community asset. When a building like PODER’s is powered by the sun, it doesn’t just serve itself, but becomes a beacon of stability for neighborhoods. This shift toward self-sufficiency ripples outward, strengthening the community through three core pillars:

1. Economic Resilience

This is more than just a lower power bill. Installing solar on these mobile homes and business buildings provides predictable costs in an unpredictable world. By locking in rates for decades, PODER can hedge against inflation.

2. Environmental Justice

For too long, clean energy has been treated as a luxury for those who couldn’t afford the upfront cost. Bringing panels to a mobile home community flips that idea, ensuring the transition to a greener world includes everyone. We also embrace this idea in our Solar Leasing program at Sugar Hollow, which allows homeowners to lock in predictable energy rates for 25 years with no money down, no installation fees and immediate savings, ensuring that solar is an affordable reality from day one.

3. Belonging & Ownership

When a community owns its energy, the power dynamic shifts. This project is a statement of permanence. It tells the neighborhood they are owners of the future, rooted in a place that is self-sustaining and secure, further establishing the mission of PODER Emma.

Powering a Movement

By combining PODER Emma’s expertise in community organizing with Sugar Hollow’s technical skills, we are powering a movement of belonging, ownership, and a brighter future for Asheville. Communities impacted by development are often left out of the entire process. These projects have helped highlight that when a community is given the information and tools needed, brilliant and innovative things can happen! These panels ensure the heartbeat of the PODER neighborhood stays strong, self-sufficient, and grounded for generations to come. When our neighbors are secure, we all shine a little brighter!