Lightstar Gives Back in Action
The Lightstar Gives Back program supports organizations and issues through donations, sponsorships and resources to help foster vibrant communities and sustainable economic development. We want to be involved in ways that will have a lasting, meaningful impact.
Volunteering at Maine Audubon and AWS
Every year, our company retreat brings the Lightstar team together from across the country. We talk strategy and plan for the year ahead. The best moments, though, often happen when we put down our laptops and pick up work gloves.
This year, we spent part of our retreat volunteering in our Maine community. We joined Maine Audubon to pull invasive plants and weeds, and a smaller crew stayed on to help the Animal Welfare Society with fall cleanup. Both days were hard work, full of laughs, and a powerful reminder of why we do what we do.
Here's a look at how we spent our time and why it matters to us.
Restoring Habitat at Maine Audubon
Maine Audubon protects wildlife and habitat across the state, and invasive plants are one of the biggest threats to that work. Left alone, they crowd out native species and disrupt the ecosystems that birds, insects, and other wildlife depend on.
So our team got to work. We spread out across the property, dug in, and pulled invasive plants and weeds by the armful. It was muddy, sweaty, and deeply satisfying to look back at the cleared ground and see the difference we'd made together.
“The Lightstar team was mighty and made a huge difference!”
We'll happily take that. Fair warning to invasive plants everywhere: none of you are safe in our presence.
Even better, Maine Audubon invited us back to volunteer at their other properties in the future. We're excited to keep this partnership growing and to help care for more of Maine's natural spaces.
Lending a Hand at the Animal Welfare Society
For those who could stay an extra day, our volunteer work continued on Friday, October 2, at the Animal Welfare Society. AWS cares for animals in need and helps them find loving homes, and that work takes a lot of behind-the-scenes effort.
Our smaller group tackled two big jobs:
Cleaning the animal transport vehicles. These vehicles carry animals to safety, care, and new beginnings, so keeping them clean and ready matters.
Fall cleanup along the trail system. AWS has an extensive network of trails where dogs get walks, exercise, and fresh air. We cleared debris and tidied the paths so they're ready for the season.
Why Environmental Stewardship Guides Everything We Do
At first glance, pulling weeds and cleaning transport vans might seem far from developing community solar, agrivoltaics, and battery storage. To us, they're part of the same commitment.
Environmental Stewardship is one of Lightstar's core values. It shapes how we build projects. We protect wetlands, preserve farmland, and design sites that work with the land, not against it. It also shapes how we show up as neighbors.
Caring for the environment means caring for:
Native habitats that support wildlife and biodiversity
Open spaces and trails that people and animals enjoy
The living things that share our communities with us
When our team volunteers, we're putting that value into practice with our own hands. Clean energy is our mission. Taking care of the places and creatures around us is part of who we are.
The Team Spirit Behind the Work
What struck people most was how naturally our teams came together. People who usually connect over video calls were suddenly side by side, swapping stories, cheering each other on, and challenging each other to pull just one more weed.
That's the Lightstar spirit. We roll up our sleeves, we work hard, and we find joy in doing good together. We are grateful to Maine Audubon and the Animal Welfare Society for welcoming us so warmly.
Looking Ahead
This won't be our last volunteer day. With Maine Audubon's invitation to return, we're already looking forward to helping at more of their properties. We'll keep seeking ways to give back in the communities where we live and work.
In the meantime, scroll through the photos above to see our team in action. And if you've got room in your heart and home, consider adopting a shelter pet that needs you.
Nestled on the western shore of Penobscot Bay in Rockport, Aldermere Farm, with its world renowned Belted Galloway cattle, has been a regional landmark for generations. Since 1999, statewide land conservation organization Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) has owned and managed the 136-acre saltwater farm as a community preserve and agricultural educational center.
Neighboring Erickson Fields, a 164-acre preserve conserved with the help of Maine Farmland Trust in 2009, offers hiking trails and community gardens. Both places are home to agricultural programming for youth and supply fresh, nutrient-rich beef and produce to local food pantries. They also serve as test grounds for regenerative agriculture techniques, which are shared with area farmers and incorporated into programming.
Our mission is to advance the conservation of lands and waters in Maine to ensure ecological wellbeing and foster thriving communities.
Since 1970, Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) has helped conserve over 180,000 acres and 337 islands, including over 160 places open to the public offering over 100 miles of hiking trails.
We’ve partnered with individuals, businesses, organizations, and communities to conserve iconic islands, critical wildlife habitat, coastal watersheds, water access sites, downtown greenspaces, and epic places for people to explore.
Our priorities are mitigating the impacts of climate change on the coast, protecting vulnerable plants and animals, expanding access to the coast, and serving Maine’s coastal communities and network of over 80 land trusts.
Lightstar volunteer day on the farm.
The dedicated teams at Lightstar spent a remarkably productive session at the farm, where they helped with a variety of chores and essential projects that required extra hands and support. By effectively dividing our available resources, we tackled a wide range of activities, including painting, barn clean-up, seasonal high-tunnel maintenance, crop processing, wood stacking, and several other important tasks. These efforts not only contributed to the overall upkeep of the farm but also enabled the farm staff to focus on their incredibly busy day-to-day operations, allowing for a smoother workflow.
And as you know…We LOVE farms of all sizes!
“As a community solar company, we believe in the power of collective action and making a positive impact. That’s why we prioritize volunteering and giving back to the communities and farms that we serve.”
Benedict Park Playground in Montgomery, New York Closer to Meeting Accessibility Goals
More children and caregivers with disabilities in Orange County will soon be able to play at Benedict Park playground. This is thanks to the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan and the Town of Montgomery’s work to create an inclusive and fully-accessible playground at the Benedict Park Playground. The addition will include a smooth rubberized surface that is easier to maneuver, shaded areas, a large, low-to-the-ground play structure, an inclusive whirl built into the ground, communication boards, new fencing to increase safety, and a multitude of adaptive swings that allow the inclusion of both children and caregivers with disabilities.
For children and caregivers with disabilities in Orange County, many playgrounds present barriers that limit their full access to the play space. During the October 6, 2022, Town Board meeting, Kaitlin Rickerd, a pediatric therapist, explained the need for playgrounds accessible to people with disabilities. Kaitlin’s goal, alongside the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, is to raise $100,000 for the construction of the playground. Lightstar Renewables and its project development team donated $11,000 to the initiative, bringing the children of Orange County closer to enjoying a playground that has features everyone can use. A core part of Lightstar’s mission is ensuring that everyone can access the outdoors and participate fully in our communities.
“We’re excited to jump-start the efforts for Cultivate Montgomery to bring a universally accessible playground to the community. Lightstar Renewables is grateful for the opportunity to create more opportunities for everyone, no matter their disability, to enjoy the outdoors. Everyone deserves to play and this project will only strengthen Montgomery’s already tight-knit community.”
— Lucy Bullock-Sieger, Vice President of Strategy
Energy access is a human right and Gallup Solar has been working diligently in New Mexico over the last 15 years to support Navajo Nation members access solar energy to power their homes, provide refrigeration for fresh food and medicine, and a certificate training program to perform rooftop installations. Each year, Gallup Solar trains residents to perform 10 installations on the surrounding Navajo reservations. There are 15,000 residents unable to connect to the grid. Lightstar is honored to partner with Gallup Solar to work towards doubling these efforts with an annual financial commitment over the next three years.
“We know that access to clean energy impacts more than just where people get their power. It opens opportunities for better health, better shelter, and better access to fresh food. The opportunity to expand our training and increase solar installations with Lightstar’s support means more people can thrive in their own homes and lives.”
— Bill Bright, President of Gallup Solar