About

Nextwatt works with landowners and solar & energy storage (BESS) developers to develop energy projects across the U.S.A. We do this by:

identifying land that meets the developers’ specified criteria,
working with landowners to lease or sell their land to developers, and
assisting developers in obtaining all required permits and approvals, such as municipal, zoning, and interconnection.

Services

Site Identification

We identify parcels of land within specific areas that meet solar and energy storage developers’ criteria (e.g., size, zoning, etc.) and contact the landowners.

Site Lease/Sale

We facilitate the signing of lease or purchase option agreements between the landowners of eligible sites and solar or energy storage developers.

Permit Acquisition

We assist in obtaining all approvals required to develop and construct the solar or energy storage project, including municipal, zoning, and interconnection.

F.A.Q.

Do you lease or buy land?

What is the process?
The process is the following:
- Site Control. Sign a Lease or Purchase Option Agreement with the landowner.
- Permitting. Request a grid interconnection study from the local power company and obtain permitting from the municipal government.
- Construction. Construct the solar project, which includes erecting the supporting metal structure, placing the solar panels, connecting the solar project to the electric grid via a power line.
- Operation. Operate and maintain the solar project, which includes remotely monitoring its power production, periodically cleaning the panels, and landscaping the surrounding vegetation.

What are the benefits?
1. Earn more money! Solar and energy storage projects offer landowners a way to take what might otherwise be unused land and either sell or lease it to generate more income. And if you sell the land, you will not have to pay the customary 3-6% real estate agent fee for listing your land. That’s a big saving to you.
2. Decrease your community’s electric bill by 10-20%! Community solar projects allow local residents to subscribe to the solar project (usually at no cost) and earn credits that decrease their monthly electricity bill by 10-20%! That means that you can decrease your and your neighbors’ monthly electricity bill by 10-20%. Sound too good to be true? This is possible through state government subsidies from taxes. See the other FAQ “How does community solar work?” for more details.
3. Help the environment. Solar and energy storage projects help us move towards a cleaner environment and help decrease global warming.

What are the risks to me?
- The biggest risk to you is that after you sign the Lease or Purchase Option Agreement, the developer may not be able to obtain grid interconnection or all the required permits, in which case the project will not be built and the developer will not purchase or lease your land. You will receive an upfront payment that you will still keep, but you will not receive the larger sale proceeds or lease income that you expected. This risk is unfortunately unavoidable and is clearly communicated to you and in the agreement that you will sign.
- If all the permits are obtained and the project is constructed, then both solar and energy storage projects are relatively low maintenance with very little risk of disruption or danger.

Who will remove the solar project?

If you lease your land, at the end of the lease term (25-35 years) the solar developer will be responsible for removing the solar project and all of its components and restoring your land to the condition that it was in when you signed the Lease Option Agreement. This will all be specified in the Lease Option Agreement that you will sign. Sometimes, the solar developer is required by local law to establish a fund in which it will periodically deposit money that will cover the solar project removal costs.

How much do you pay?

This is the big question!

For solar projects, the buy and lease prices that our developers offer range. The buy offer can be the market price of the land, given comparable land close by that has sold recently, or it can be up to $6,500/acre.

The lease offer can be between $400-1,300/acre per year, depending on the developer. The lease term is 25 years with an option to renew an additional 10 years.

How long will it take?
Below are typical timeframes for each stage of a community solar project:
- Site Control. 1-3 months
- Permitting. 6-12 months, but after receiving the interconnection study (3 months) we will have a very good idea of whether the solar project will be feasible and will inform you.
- Construction. 3-6 months
- Operation. 25-35 years

Why should I work with you?
- Nextwatt works with multiple developers and therefore can bring you the highest and most competitive price offer. Also, this increases the likelihood of finding a developer who wants to lease or buy your land. There are no costs to you for working with us.
- We are here to help you monetize your land for a good cause. We are professional, efficient, and pleasant to work with. Our goal is not to hoodwink you into signing over your land, but instead to guide you through the process, explain the benefits and risks, and find an arrangement that works best for you.
- We also only work with serious and well-capitalized solar and energy storage developers, so you don’t have to worry about the developers going bankrupt or engaging in unprofessional practices.

How does community solar work?
A community solar project is a solar project, to which local residents can subscribe and receive a credit to decrease their electricity bill, typically by 10-20%.

Here are some helpful websites that provide more information:

If I lease, will my taxes go up?

Submit

If you have a piece of land that you are interested in leasing or selling, please submit the information below and we will perform a desktop review to see whether the land is suitable for a solar or energy storage project. If the land is suitable, we will share a price offer with you.

Please note, we will NOT sell your information, nor will we send you marketing messages. We don’t like spam either.

By submitting this form you agree to receive automated messages. Reply NO to opt out. Message & data rates apply. Terms and privacy policy can be found at www.nextwatt.com/privacy-policy.

Contact

info@nextwatt.com

(518) 327-4431

1750 Tysons Blvd, Suite 1500, McLean, VA 22102

By submitting this form you agree to receive automated messages. Reply NO to opt out. Message & data rates apply. Terms and privacy policy can be found at www.nextwatt.com/privacy-policy.

Site Identification

Site Lease/Sale

Permit Acquisition

The process is the following:

Site Control. Sign a Lease or Purchase Option Agreement with the landowner.

Permitting. Request a grid interconnection study from the local power company and obtain permitting from the municipal government.

Construction. Construct the solar project, which includes erecting the supporting metal structure, placing the solar panels, connecting the solar project to the electric grid via a power line.

Operation. Operate and maintain the solar project, which includes remotely monitoring its power production, periodically cleaning the panels, and landscaping the surrounding vegetation.

Help the environment. Solar and energy storage projects help us move towards a cleaner environment and help decrease global warming.

If all the permits are obtained and the project is constructed, then both solar and energy storage projects are relatively low maintenance with very little risk of disruption or danger.

This is the big question!

For solar projects, the buy and lease prices that our developers offer range. The buy offer can be the market price of the land, given comparable land close by that has sold recently, or it can be up to $6,500/acre.

The lease offer can be between $400-1,300/acre per year, depending on the developer. The lease term is 25 years with an option to renew an additional 10 years.

Below are typical timeframes for each stage of a community solar project:

Site Control. 1-3 months

Permitting. 6-12 months, but after receiving the interconnection study (3 months) we will have a very good idea of whether the solar project will be feasible and will inform you.

Construction. 3-6 months

Operation. 25-35 years

Nextwatt works with multiple developers and therefore can bring you the highest and most competitive price offer. Also, this increases the likelihood of finding a developer who wants to lease or buy your land. There are no costs to you for working with us.

We also only work with serious and well-capitalized solar and energy storage developers, so you don’t have to worry about the developers going bankrupt or engaging in unprofessional practices.

A community solar project is a solar project, to which local residents can subscribe and receive a credit to decrease their electricity bill, typically by 10-20%.

Here are some helpful websites that provide more information:

NY State Energy Research and Development Authority: “How Does Community Solar Work?” and “New York Leads the U.S. on Community Solar”

U.S. Department of Energy: “Community Solar Basics”

Solar Energy Industries Association: “Community Solar”

In short, no. The solar developers that we work with will pay any increase in taxes that is caused by the solar project. This will be specified in detail in the Lease Option Agreement that you will sign.