Sheppard Lane - Powering Howard County, Growing Together.
At Lightstar, we believe clean energy should strengthen the communities it serves. Our new dual-use solar project brings this vision to life right here in Howard County. By blending reliable solar power with active local agriculture, we support your farming traditions while delivering affordable, homegrown electricity to your neighborhood. This project is a shared investment in the place you call home, designed to help local farmers keep their land productive and create a cleaner, brighter future for your family.
Societal & Environmental Benefits
Savings to local LMI residents annually TBD
1413 Metric Tons Removed
In 1 year, this project avoids 1413 metric tons of CO2. This is equal to avoided greenhouse gas emissions from:
This is the equivalent to carbon sequestered by:
3.5 Million Miles Driven (average gas powered car for 1yr)
23,369 tree seedlings planted for 10 yrs
8.4 acres of US forests conserved per yr
Project Overview
Project at a Glance
Location: Ellicott City, Maryland (35 acres on Sheppard Lane)
System Capacity: 2 MWac of clean power
Harvesting Energy and Agriculture Together
This site operates as an agrivoltaics facility, meaning we use the land for both solar energy generation and active farming simultaneously. We custom-design the single-axis tracking solar arrays to allow agricultural activities to continue safely underneath and around the panels. We also install specialized agricultural fencing to protect the site while fully supporting daily farming operations.
Clean Energy for Everyone
You do not need to own a home or install rooftop panels to benefit from clean energy. Our community solar program provides direct access to renewable electricity for everyone in the area. This includes renters and low-to-moderate-income households who want to save money on their monthly power bills. By subscribing to the Sheppard Lane project, you capture local energy savings while helping attract new investment into Maryland’s green economy.
Our Commitment to Land Stewardship
We respect the soil and the deep agricultural legacy of Howard County. We manage the land carefully during every phase of the project. When the solar farm eventually reaches the end of its operational life, we will safely decommission the site. We commit to removing all equipment and infrastructure, fully restoring the land so it can return to traditional, full-scale farming operations for generations to come.
Get Started
Join us in building a more resilient Howard County. Contact our team today to learn how you can subscribe and save.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Lightstar, we are committed to transparency and collaboration with the communities we work in, and we value addressing questions and concerns from local residents, landowners, and stakeholders. Below, we’ve provided responses to the inquiries regarding our solar development project to ensure clarity and open communication.
Our approach to solar development is future-focused and rooted in urgency to decarbonize our grid. We work collaboratively with landowners, local communities, and town officials to create projects that reflect best practices in sustainability, foster economic opportunities, and align with shared long-term goals.
We remain committed to maintaining open communication with all stakeholders and appreciate the opportunity to address these thoughtful questions. Should you have additional inquiries, we encourage you to reach out so that we can continue fostering a transparent and productive dialogue.
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A landowner with available land near electrical infrastructure expressed interest in partnering with Lightstar. Additionally, this project will help Maryland meet their renewable energy goals.
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Yes, wetland and environmental field work has been completed. The project has been designed to avoid any located features.
We have completed subsurface exploration, laboratory testing, and geotechnical work. MHT/DNR/USFWS consultations have also been completed.
We received a determination of no hazard from FAA.
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The proposed solar project is not expected to threaten species or wildlife. Prior to development, environmental assessments are conducted to identify any sensitive habitats, protected species, or migration corridors within the project area. The site selection and design intentionally avoid ecologically sensitive areas and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
In addition, the project will incorporate best management practices during construction and operation to minimize habitat disturbance, prevent erosion, and protect nearby ecosystems. Solar facilities are low‑impact, quiet, and generate electricity without air emissions or water pollution, making them compatible with surrounding natural resources.
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Yes, we are prioritizing local labor from Maryland.
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This proposed solar project is designed to deliver direct and meaningful cost savings to low‑ to moderate‑income (LMI) customers. By participating in the project, qualifying households will have access to locally generated, clean electricity without requiring any upfront cost or rooftop installation. Subscribers receive guaranteed bill credits on their utility bills that reduce overall electricity expenses, helping lower monthly energy burdens for families who are often most impacted by rising energy costs.
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At the end of the project’s operational life, or if the facility is otherwise decommissioned, all solar equipment and associated infrastructure will be fully removed from the site. This includes solar modules, mounting structures, electrical wiring, inverters, transformers, access roads (unless requested to remain by the landowner), fencing, and any above‑ or below‑ground support equipment.
Decommissioning activities will be conducted in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations and under best management practices to minimize soil disturbance and prevent environmental impacts during removal. All materials will be reused, recycled, or disposed of at licensed facilities in compliance with waste and recycling requirements.
Following equipment removal, the land will be restored to pre‑project conditions suitable for full agricultural use.
The decommissioning plan ensures that the solar project is temporary in nature and that the land remains a long‑term asset for farming, preserving its agricultural value for future generations.
Resources
Community Meeting
Date and location coming soon!
Meet the Team
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Tim Groszkowski is a Senior Development Manager at Lightstar, where he channels his deep commitment to his home state of Maryland into advancing the clean energy transition. As a Maryland native, he takes immense pride in bringing dual-use agrivoltaic solutions to life. He focuses on projects that generate reliable clean power while actively supporting local agriculture and strengthening the community.
In his role, Tim develops innovative solar arrays that deliver clear environmental and economic benefits. He champions a transparent and collaborative approach, working hand-in-hand with landowners, farmers, and local leaders. This dedication ensures that every solar installation creates a lasting, positive impact and drives Lightstar's goal of building rural resilience.
Tim earned his degree in Sustainability and Energy Resources from George Mason University. He pairs this academic foundation with hands-on experience as a former small business owner. This unique background fuels his passion for creative problem-solving and building strong relationships within the renewable energy sector.
Core Focus Areas:
Advancing agrivoltaics and dual-use solar development
Guiding community-centric energy projects from planning to operation
Building transparent partnerships with local stakeholders and landowners
Applying sustainable energy practices to solve complex local challenges
Tim remains dedicated to securing a clean, resilient energy future. He consistently delivers projects that respect working farmland and make a real difference for the communities they serve. To discuss local solar partnerships or agrivoltaic opportunities in Maryland, reach out to connect with Tim and the Lightstar team.
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Allen leads Lightstar’s development team with an unwavering commitment to advancing clean energy solutions. Since joining the solar industry in 2017, Allen has successfully developed over 500MW of community solar-scale projects across 13 states, as well as a 120MW grid-scale project. His expertise ensures that every project is designed to maximize efficiency while prioritizing environmental stewardship.
With a unique blend of environmental science and legal expertise, Allen brings a thoughtful and holistic approach to solar development. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources from Sewanee The University of the South, a Master of Science in Conservation Biology from Antioch University of New England, and a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School. This multidisciplinary background enables him to navigate the complexities of solar development while focusing on minimizing environmental impacts and fostering sustainable energy transitions.
But it’s not just about individual achievements for Allen - he truly believes that collaboration is key to achieving our goals. That’s why he works closely with local governments, landowners, and stakeholders to ensure that our projects are mutually beneficial for all parties involved. By fostering strong relationships and finding common ground, we can create lasting positive impacts through solar energy.
At Lightstar, Allen’s leadership reflects our collective mission to create innovative, sustainable solar projects while building long-term partnerships with communities and landowners. He is passionate about ensuring that solar energy not only delivers clean power but also contributes positively to the land and communities we serve.
About Lightstar
Stewards of the Land, Backed by Institutional Capital
You’ve never met a solar company like us. We’re one of the few providers that own and operate all of our projects, and one of the first to offer landowners the opportunity to maintain the agricultural viability of their land through agrivoltaics.
Lightstar’s immediate parent company is Eagle Creek Renewable Energy. Founded in 2010 to acquire, enhance, and operate small hydroelectric power facilities, Eagle Creek’s affiliates currently own and operate 84 hydroelectric facilities representing 691 megawatts of capacity across the United States. Eagle Creek is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation, one of the largest, most diverse power generators in North America.
Lightstar Gives Back
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.
Developed and launched by the policy team at Lightstar, The Solar and Farming Association (SAFA) is a coalition of organizations representing the interests of the agrivoltaics (AgPV) industry including developers, agricultural producers, livestock producers, and affiliated organizations focused on expanding and integrating solar and sustained agricultural production on the same parcel of land.
SAFA’ s mission is to grow commercial crop and livestock agrivoltaics in the United States.
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