We created Common Cents Solar to encourage neighbors to consider solar energy specifically, and energy-wise options generally, as we all face a future of expensive, greenhouse gas producing, and often-unreliable energy choices. The goals for CCS include:

• Making solar energy cheaper - by joining together we can marshal our purchasing power to reduce the solar system prices and capture much larger tax incentives relative to what we could get if we each pursued solar on our own.


• Educating neighbors about the benefits of solar energy - by providing technical and economic information, and building demo systems to demonstrate that solar energy can be a practical, attractive and effective option.


• Building a solar bandwagon - that will encourage more members of any community to participate, producing a larger positive energy and environmental impact than would otherwise be possible.


• Creating a community action model – that can be expanded to deliver other efficient and economical energy-wise products and services (such as energy conserving insulation or new windows) for our Town and in other communities as well.

General Manager: Kirk Renaud

Kirk is a seasoned business professional, with an MBA from Stanford and a BA in architecture and environmental studies. He is the CEO of BioBrite Inc., and has helped start up several technology companies. Kirk’s energy experience comes from over a decade of management consulting work with McKinsey and Co and Booz, Allen and Hamilton. His energy clients included oil companies, electric and gas utilities, the Department of Energy, and energy-related technology organizations in Alaska, California, Illinois, Texas, South America, Japan, and Europe. He has worked on a number of solar energy programs over the last 25 years, and believes the time is finally right for solar to be a logical environmental and economical option. Like Ketch, he would like to see his neighborhood, and many more, take leadership roles in fighting global warming, and wants to see that happen in a business-like way that benefits homeowners as well as the environment.

Co-op Member Coordinator: Ketch Ryan

Ketch installed the first solar system in her neighborhood. She has an M.A. in Science, Technology and Public Policy, with a particular emphasis on future forecasting and land use planning. She worked for a number of years as a strategic planner and regional and state policy analyst in the toxics office at the U.S. EPA. In the neighborhood where she has lived for over 8 years, she co-created the Project Ladybug pesticide-free initiative, and worked on environmental issues during a major moratorium reorganization. During the day she teaches at The Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. She co-founded CCS because she believes that solar is the right choice to make – to ensure that her daughters have a clean and livable world, to be part of a practical solution to global energy and emissions woes and to regain some control over utility costs.

Information Systems: Lance Hoffman

Lance has degrees in mathematics and computer science from Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University. He has spent his career working in the fields of electronic commerce, computer security, and national information privacy issues. He directs Department of Homeland Security, Defense Department and the National Science Foundation computer security and information privacy programs at The George Washington University, where he is a Distinguished Research Professor.

Finance: Michael Lebowitz

Michael is a Senior Director of Portfolio Management at Fannie Mae. Currently he manages a fixed income portfolio comprised of over $60bln in assets. Prior to his current responsibilities he created a multi-currency borrowing platform, developed the Benchmark liquid securities auction, and played significant roles in the creation of two Internet based trading systems. He has over 18 years of experience in capital markets and extensive knowledge of the technical and strategic drivers in capital markets, as well as understanding the specifics of internal credit and risk management for business decisions. Michael has a BS of Finance from Miami University of Ohio and has been awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Electrical Engineering: Don MacGlashan

Don has a degree in Electronics Engineering, and is a registered Professional Electrical Engineer for the state of Maryland. While at the Bendix Corporation, he designed digital equipment for radar systems, display systems, and materials handling equipment for commercial industries, receiving patents for both digital and microwave equipment. As a consultant with Booz, Allen and Hamilton, he defined requirements and specifications for major electronic defense systems, and monitored contractors' performance of those systems. He was past chairman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Citizen Advisory Committee, and chaired a Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments working team to monitor the FAA airspace redesign for the Washington region. A resident of his community for over 31 years, he recently provided technical expertise for the development of the stormwater drainage ordinance.

Architecture: Marcie Meditch

Marcie, a principal in the design firm of Meditch-Murphey, is a well known architect who is experienced in solar design. She has received many design awards, including Custom Home Design Project of the Year, and award for best "Self Sustaing High Performance Structure", and multiple merit and excellence awards in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, and New York.