Company History

Community Energy, Inc. (CEI) was founded in 1999 to ignite the market and develop the supply of fuel-free energy.  Under the leadership of its founders, CEI built the voluntary market for renewable energy, spurring the demand for hundreds of Megawatts of new wind generation ahead of state mandates.  CEI currently delivers renewable energy to over 120,000 customers through direct sales and 21 partnerships with electric utilities and suppliers.  The company was awarded the American Wind Energy Association’s “Market-Maker” Award in 2002.

While leading the voluntary market for renewable energy, CEI also began developing wind farms.  CEI was the lead developer and remains part owner of the high-profile 7.5 MW Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm in Atlantic City, NJ, the only wind farm in the state, in 2005.  This project blends wholesale and retail electric markets by delivering half of its electricity output behind-the-meter directly to the facility that hosts the project and the other half to the grid.  Also in 2005, Community Energy earned the Department of Energy’s “Green Power Supplier” Award.

CEI built a $1.5 billion pipeline of over 500 MW additional utility-scale wind farms before being acquired by Iberdrola Renewables, the world’s largest renewable energy company.  CEI continued to grow its renewable energy marketing business under separate branding while Iberdrola absorbed its development team and project pipeline.  In 2008, CEI founders Brent Alderfer and Eric Blank oversaw the construction of over 700MW of wind projects.

In August 2009, CEI’s founders spun off the company from Iberdrola Renewables, returning the company to independent status to focus on the emerging solar energy market.  In the winter of 2009-2010, CEI completed its first rooftop, behind-the-meter solar projects and began developing utility-scale solar projects.  Community Energy currently has a pipeline of over 500MW of utility-scale solar projects in varying stages of development.

Throughout its strong development history, Community Energy has helped finance renewable energy projects by marketing the benefits of renewable energy to residential and commercial customers.  For over ten years, CEI has collaborated with partners and customers to communicate the value of their commitments to renewable energy.  Such partners include electric utility companies and leading corporate brands.  CEI’s green power programs regularly earn notable rankings on the nation’s top ten green power programs lists.

Together with our community of customers and partners, we are energizing a sustainable world and building a clean energy future.