Deeds takes a look at Richmond’s green economy

With the sun beating down, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds rode a crane to get a closer look at a new solar panel installation at the Virginia Commonwealth University physical plant.

Deeds visited the site at the invitation of Cityspace Solar owners Blue Crump and Justin French. Cityspace was hired to install the 6 kilowatt system at the VCU physical plant as the university advances its plan to go green. Read more

Justin French now part owner of Cityspace Solar

It’s a match made in “green” heaven.

Justin French, one of the largest developers in Richmond, has acquired a 50 percent stake in Cityspace Solar.

Ctyspace Founder Blue Crump said the new partnership will help the firm grow in Richmond and in Washington D.C.

“He owns so much real estate and we are including solar on lots of project and moving very rapidly,” said Crump.

Crump added that his construction company, Cityspace Construction, will remain a separate business unit for now.

Cityspace Solar will soon start adding solar panels to several French properties, including his Shockoe Slip office, the Fountain Bookstore, eight row houses in Church Hill and apartment conversion projects in Scott’s Addition.

Cityspace Solar will continue to handle projects not owned by French, including a wine-tasting room in Louisa County (you can read about that here) and the Virginia Commonwealth University physical plant.

Crump said that Cityspace will now work closely with ReStore, a reclaimed lumber store owned by French that opened over the winter. French opened ReStore in Shockoe Slip as a showroom for lumber recovered from a shuttered B.F. Goodwrench factory in Georgia.

“That brings reclaimed material in some of the redevelopment projects and with renewable energy is just a natural fit,” Crump said.

French said he and Crump already share the same customer base—people that are inclined to use green energy.

“My goal with Blue is to incorporate him under the umbrella with what I’m doing with ReStore,” French said.

The partnership comes just as French prepares to open another ReStore showroom in the Georgetown section of Washington D.C., and Cityspace will have an office there, too. (Cityspace already has an office in Annapolis, MD.)

The D.C. operation will target government contracts and the sort of green projects that Crump hopes grow in popularity as a result of new incentives.

“As cap-and-trade goes through the Senate, utility rates are going to go up,” said Crump, “As you have increased utility rates all of a sudden solar just starts to make good fiscal sense.”

Cityspace Solar also brokers renewable energy certificates on the secondary market; businesses buy and sell them to meet energy regulations.

French said energy certificates will continue to be an important part of the business.

“Going forward I think that will also help subsidize the model for any type of green energy,” French said.

Al Harris covers green business for BizSense. Please send news tips Al@richmondbizsense.com.

Solar firm turns to local farms to grow business

A federal incentive program could forever change the face of Virginia’s agriculture industry by encouraging more farms to install solar energy systems. Read more