Clean energy.
Stronger communities.
Brighter futures.

Volt Energy Utility develops utility-scale solar and storage and structures Community Impact PPAs, so every project delivers clean power for leading companies and lasting investment in the communities powering America’s future.

350+ MW of clean energy projects successfully developed for leading companies, including Microsoft and Google
350+ MWCommunity Impact PPAs developed for Microsoft and Google
$25MCommunity impact funds allocated through Volt Energy Utility projects
$3M+Community grants distributed by Sharing the Power Foundation since 2021
20 statesWith community grant investments
The Volt advantage

Beyond megawatts: a new model for energy partnership

As AI and data center demand accelerates, the companies building tomorrow’s infrastructure need clean power and community trust. Volt delivers both, connecting project economics to investments shaped by community priorities.

Clean energy procurement

Utility-scale solar PPAs and storage that meet corporate energy, AI and data center growth goals.

Community partnership

Proactive listening, meaningful engagement and locally guided investment where we develop projects.

Measurable impact

Workforce development, energy affordability and local economic opportunity, tracked and reported.

How the Community Impact PPA works

One agreement. Clean megawatts for the buyer, lasting investment for the community.

Volt and its corporate partners contribute a portion of project revenue to the Sharing the Power Foundation, which funds organizations serving urban and rural communities nationwide.

01

Corporate offtaker

Signs a long-term Community Impact PPA or VPPA, advancing decarbonization goals through purpose-driven procurement.

02

Volt Energy Utility

Develops and finances the project, delivers renewable energy and RECs, and structures the agreement.

03

Community Impact Fund

Established at commercial operation and funded by contractual project contributions, dedicated to local and regional investment.

04

Sharing the Power Foundation

Administers the fund, leads community-led grantmaking with local advisors, and ensures compliance, transparency and impact reporting.

Our Footprint | Solar Development & Community Impact


Solar projects developed (350+ MW) Community grant investments

Community Impact at a Glance

Dotted U.S. map with the states where Sharing the Power Foundation has made community grant investments highlighted in green, with the Sharing the Power Foundation logo in the centerReach
20 states

With community grant investments made by Sharing the Power Foundation

Volt team speaking with residents at a community eventCommunity grants
$3M+

Community grants distributed and administered by Sharing the Power Foundation

HBCU Energy and Sustainability Fellows: Abby Armstrong (West Virginia University), Austin King (Howard University), Paris Williamson (Xavier University of Louisiana), Joseph Carter (Texas Southern University), Arianna Smith-Forte (Spelman College) and Skyler Carrillo (Tuskegee University)STEM education
$1M+

Scholarships awarded to Sharing the Power’s HBCU Energy & Sustainability Fellows

Clean energy trainees in hard hats at a solar siteWorkforce
2,500+

Workers retrained and placed in good-paying jobs*

Resident reviewing an energy billEnergy affordability
10,000+

Households supported with energy bill assistance and weatherization initiatives*

Goodr mobile grocery store truckHealthy communities
35M+

Meals served in food-insecure communities*

*Results from grantees funded.

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What we do

Our Community Impact PPAs

Volt develops utility-scale solar and storage projects and structures Community Impact PPAs that connect corporate clean energy procurement with meaningful local investment.

Our Community Impact PPAs
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Gilbert Campbell leading a site walk at a Volt solar project under construction
About Us

Volt Energy Utility

Volt Energy Utility is a national utility-scale solar and energy storage developer pioneering Community Impact Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). With more than 350 MW developed for leading technology companies, Volt connects clean energy procurement with meaningful community investment through Sharing the Power Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Volt.

A father carries his daughter on his shoulders through a field at sunset
The Volt Difference

Beyond megawatts: building community trust through clean energy

Volt Energy Utility pioneered the Community Impact Power Purchase Agreement, a procurement model that builds meaningful, long-term community investment into traditional clean energy contracts. To advance that mission, Volt founded Sharing the Power Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has invested in communities nationwide for five years.

Our approach led to a historic Community Impact PPA framework agreement with Microsoft to deliver 250 MW of utility-scale solar, followed by a Community Impact PPA with Google. Volt and Microsoft co-authored white papers on integrating community investment into clean energy procurement, and Volt has joined Microsoft and Google on industry panels to encourage broader adoption.

As community distrust of large-scale energy infrastructure and data centers grows, Volt bridges the gap between corporate energy buyers, developers and local communities, delivering projects that create lasting economic opportunity and ensure communities share in the benefits.

350+ MWCommunity Impact PPAs developed for Microsoft and Google
$25MCommunity impact funds allocated through Volt Energy Utility projects
$3M+Community grants distributed by Sharing the Power Foundation since 2021
20 statesWith community grant investments
Gilbert Campbell speaking on stage

“At Volt Energy Utility, we believe the next generation of energy infrastructure must deliver more than megawatts. It must create lasting economic opportunities for the communities powering America’s future.”

Gilbert Campbell, CEO & Founder, Volt Energy Utility

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Our Team


Gilbert Campbell

Gilbert Campbell

Founder & Chief Executive Officer
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Gilbert Campbell is the founder and chief executive officer of Volt Energy Utility, a national clean energy firm that develops utility-scale solar and energy storage projects. Under his leadership, Volt has successfully developed over 350 MW of utility-scale solar projects for Fortune 100 corporations. These projects include significant investment in local communities through the Community Impact Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) model Volt pioneered. Volt signed a historic deal with Microsoft to deliver 250 MW of utility-scale solar under its Community Impact PPA model. Volt has also developed utility-scale solar projects for Google and other companies under this model.

Campbell chairs the board of Sharing the Power Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit established by Volt to help carry out those community commitments. The foundation works with local organizations to support workforce and economic development, energy affordability, STEM education, and community health. It has invested more than $4 million in rural and urban communities across the country, including $1 million in scholarships for students at historically Black colleges and universities.

Campbell advocates for energy policies that accelerate clean energy deployment, support workforce and economic development, and benefit local communities. He regularly advises federal and local officials, corporations, and other stakeholders on energy policy and best practices. He has worked closely with members of Congress from both parties on clean energy legislation and has testified before Congress on several occasions.

Campbell serves on the boards of the Solar Energy Industries Association and the American Association of Blacks in Energy, where he chairs the Entrepreneurship Committee. He recently completed his term on the board of the Clean Energy Buyers Alliance (CEBA) and previously served on the 3Degrees Advisory Board.

In 2016, the Obama administration recognized Campbell’s leadership in advancing climate equity with a White House Champions of Change Award. He was also named to EBONY magazine’s Power 100 list and received the Amtrak and Washington Wizards Pioneer Award. Campbell graduated magna cum laude from Howard University with a B.B.A. in finance and completed postgraduate leadership training at Harvard University.

Eric Grant

Eric Grant

Partner
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Eric is responsible for Volt’s external affairs, marketing and communications. He also directs the management and governance of the Environmental Justice Community Impact Fund, as stipulated in the Environmental Justice Power Purchase Agreement ™. Eric has over 30 years of experience in the energy sector.

As former vice president of government affairs and communications for WGL Energy and Washington Gas, he directed the company’s multi-state government and public affairs, federal government affairs, external and crisis communications, media relations, branding and corporate giving. His government affairs team led the lobbying efforts for the landmark utility infrastructure repair and replacement law in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Early in his career, he served as manager of state government affairs at The American Petroleum Institute.

For almost a decade, he served as spokesperson, director of communications, public affairs and corporate philanthropy at The Washington Post. His non-profit experience included five years as director of cause marketing and mega city grants for Special Olympics, Inc., structuring major corporate sponsorships with such companies as Lands’ End, Subaru, Raymond Co., AMF, and Hoyle Cards. He has served on several boards including: Volt Energy, LLC., the DC and Maryland Chambers of Commerce, Red Cross - National Capital Region, and the Black Student Fund.

Eric is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Landeggar International Business Executive Program at Georgetown University.

Barry Schochet

Barry Schochet

Partner (In Memoriam)
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Barry Schochet was instrumental in the founding of Volt. His foresight, wisdom and support set the tone for Volt’s mission. A distinguished attorney with extensive business development experience, Barry served as a Managing Partner for Volt Energy and oversaw business development and strategy for the company.

He received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his J.D. from Emory University. His career included private law practice and service in the United States Senate where he was counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee and Staff Director for the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East and South Asia.

He crafted significant projects in both the US and international markets. These projects included: the food service, real estate, restaurant, financial, and solar industries. Mr. Schochet was also an early limited partner with The Cheesecake Factory and played an integral part in the company's early expansion nationwide and initial public offering.

Jean Nelson-Houpert

Jean Nelson-Houpert

Chief Financial Officer
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Jean Nelson-Houpert is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Volt Energy Utility, a national Minority-Owned utility-scale developer in Washington, DC, and the Financial Counselor at Sharing The Power Foundation. She oversees all financial aspects of the company, ensuring its continued success and stability. Additionally, Jean volunteers financial counsel to the Sharing the Power Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Volt Energy Utility, to support organizations that provide services to urban and rural communities disproportionately affected by climate change, air and water pollution, and inaccessibility to renewable energy opportunities.

With over 25 years of experience in finance, public, and corporate accounting, Jean served as the inaugural Chief Financial Officer and Interim CEO at the DC Green Bank for three years, leading the organization from its inception until September 2023. She began her career in public accounting as a financial institution specialist with Grant Thornton, LLP. She served incorporate positions as interim CEO, Chief Financial Officer, and Director of Accounting at various organizations.

Jean received her Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance, graduating cum laude from Temple University's Fox School of Business, and acquired a Master of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment from Tulane Law School. She also holds a certification from Columbia Business School in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) Investing and a certificate in Sustainable Management. Jean serves on the Board of Directors of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE), the Advisory Council of the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif), and the advisory boards of Village Capital and Halcyon House.

Partner with Volt

Let’s reimagine energy infrastructure, together.

Start the conversation →
SHARING THE POWERFOUNDATION

Volt builds the projects. Sharing the Power puts the proceeds to work.

Founded by Volt in 2021, the Sharing the Power Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) that leads community engagement, manages Community Impact Fund investments and reports outcomes, so every dollar is vetted, funded and measured against the same standard.

A father holds his daughter on his shoulders overlooking a solar field at sunrise
Sharing the Power Foundation investment pillars: Workforce and Economic Development (2,500+ workers retrained and placed in good-paying jobs, partner organization results); Energy Affordability (10,000+ households supported with energy burden relief, partner organization results); STEM Education ($1M+ scholarships awarded to HBCU Energy and Sustainability Fellows); Healthy Communities (35 million meals served, partner organization results); Community Engagement (100+ community organizations supported in 20 states). $3M+ community grants distributed 2021 to 2026; 90+ HBCU Clean Energy Fellows supported; 20 states with community investments; 5 years of impact.
SHARING THE POWERFOUNDATION

Learn more about Sharing the Power Foundation’s grantmaking, community partners and impact reporting.

Visit sharingthepower.org →
Sharing the Power Foundation

Projects that create change


Retraining the Coalfield Workforce slide from Sharing the Power Foundation
Select partners
Coalfield Development
Center for Coalfield Justice
Appalachian Voices
Energy Affordability slide from Sharing the Power Foundation
Select partners
United Way of the Midlands
Hispanic Access Foundation
Virginia Interfaith Power & Light
The Energy and Sustainability Fellowship Program slide from Sharing the Power Foundation
Select partners
Howard University
Morehouse College
Alcorn State University
HBCU national cohort
Microsoft
Google
Amazon
Addressing Access to Healthy Foods slide from Sharing the Power Foundation
Select partners
Goodr
West Atlanta Watershed Alliance

Workforce, energy affordability and food security figures are results from partner organizations funded by Sharing the Power Foundation.

Partner with Volt

Let’s reimagine energy infrastructure, together.

Start the conversation →

Media

Partner with Volt

Let’s reimagine energy infrastructure, together.

Start the conversation →
A new model for partnership

Let’s reimagine energy infrastructure, together.

A worker in a hard hat and a family look out over a solar field at sunset

Buying power, building projects or serving a community? Our team looks forward to partnering with you.

2001 L Street NW, Suite 500 · Washington, DC 20036 · 202-729-8150

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