Ian Palmer co-founded and served as CEO of New Energy Equity while also volunteering on CRAB’s Board of Directors until 2017. As CRAB’s Treasurer, he was a key leader in the strategic planning and financial policies to better enable the organization to acquire a new fleet of boats and continue serving its sailing guests with disabilities, recovering warriors, and youth from underserved communities.
The state-of-the-art learning center of CRAB’s new Adaptive Boating Center (“ABC”) will feature roof-mounted solar panels donated, engineered, installed, and managed by New Energy’s charitable giving arm – the Lift as We Climb Foundation. Inspired in part by Ian’s legacy at New Energy, the Lift as We Climb Foundation carries New Energy’s commitment to give back to local communities and make real New Energy’s overall mission of leaving the world a better place through renewable energy.
“We are honored to be able to install this system and donate the electricity produced to CRAB, an organization that was so important to Ian,” said New Energy’s current CEO and co-founder, Matt Hankey. “Partnering together to bring this building to life and support CRAB’s mission is one way we have been able to honor Ian’s memory and carry on his dedication of giving back to our communities.”
The solar panels are designed with a capacity of 25kW, producing an estimated 33 megawatt-hours of electricity – enough to fully power the entire new boating center at no charge, reducing its utility costs to zero for the next 25 years. The electricity savings will allow CRAB to allocate more resources towards furthering its mission of providing adaptive water experiences and instruction at no cost to guests, to over 1,000 individuals every year, which is expected to increase significantly when the new facility opens in 2022.
“Ian was a strong and dedicated leader who shared his love of sailing by putting his heart and soul into making CRAB a success,” said CRAB Executive Director, Paul Bollinger. “He loved seeing CRAB guests with disabilities smiling and happy while learning to sail on the Chesapeake Bay. We are deeply honored to see Ian’s legacy continue in our partnership with New Energy Equity.”
CRAB’s new Adaptive Boating Center is located on Back Creek, in Annapolis, and is expected to break ground later this summer.
About Chesapeake Regional Accessible Boating
Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2021 as the premier provider of sailing instruction to people with disabilities, recovering warriors, and children from underserved communities. For more information, go to www.crabsailing.org or call 410-266-5722.
About New Energy Equity
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, New Energy Equity develops and finances solar power generation assets, providing clean electricity to commercial, industrial, municipal, and utility customers under long-term contracts. New Energy Equity has successfully developed over 250MW of solar projects since 2013. The company was ranked as the 7th Top Solar Developer and the 8th Top Solar Contractor on Solar Power World’s “2021 Top Solar Contractors” list and was voted as one of the fastest-growing energy companies in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia by Inc. Magazine in 2020.
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For additional media inquiries, contact:
Keri Fisher
P: 443.266.2079
E: [email protected]
Paul Bollinger
P: 410.266.5722
E: [email protected]
SOURCE New Energy Equity
