When Weavers Way Co-op opened its Germantown store in May 2024, it added more than groceries to the neighborhood. By October, a 67.9 kW solar array with 140 panels was online, supplying about 22% of the store’s electricity.

Grocery stores are among the most energy-hungry businesses, with refrigeration and freezers running nonstop. In that context, the Germantown array offsets the equivalent of powering seven to eight homes each year while reducing the store’s steep energy bills.

How the Model Works

The system cost about $150,000 to install. Instead of paying that upfront, Weavers Way partnered with the Clean Energy Co-op, a Pennsylvania-based cooperative with more than 170 members.

Through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the Co-op owns the system while Weavers Way pays only for the electricity it generates. Rates are locked in for 25 years, providing stability against utility price spikes.

Why It Matters

Electricity costs are rising. PECO residential rates climbed 48% between 2020 and 2025, and commercial customers face even higher increases. A PPA shields Weavers Way from that volatility while providing predictable long-term savings.

For a member-owned food co-op, solar also aligns with a broader mission of sustainability. The Germantown project follows other initiatives such as reducing single-use plastics and adding EV charging stations.

The Partners

• Weavers Way Co-op — General Manager Jon Roesser and Facilities Manager Steve Hebden led the effort. 
• Clean Energy Co-op — Designed and financed the project by pooling investments from members statewide, chaired locally by Joy Baxter. 
• Solar States — Philadelphia-based installer specializing in solar and workforce training, completed the rooftop system in August 2024.
  

In June 2025, the project received the Lodestar Award from the Pennsylvania Solar Center for advancing community-based clean energy.

Bigger Picture

The Germantown array is the seventh project financed by the Clean Energy Co-op and its first in Philadelphia. The model offers a path for nonprofits and community businesses that want solar without major upfront costs.

Weavers Way is already considering its Ambler store for a future installation. Rising utility rates make similar projects increasingly viable across the region.

Local Benefits

The Germantown installation delivers:

• 22% of the store’s electricity use
  
• Stable energy costs for 25 years
  
• Profits reinvested in the community instead of utilities
  

As Facilities Manager Steve Hebden said: “It’s impossible for us not to do something like this. That’s the way we’re built.”