SolaREIT Spotlight: January

Jay Carlis

At SolaREIT, our mission to accelerate the clean energy transition is driven by a diverse team of passionate, talented individuals. Each team member plays a critical role in delivering innovative financing solutions to solar and battery energy storage developers and landowners. As a minority- and women-owned business, we know that the unique contributions of every person on our team drive our collective success. 

This month, we're proud to spotlight Jay Carlis, Executive Vice President, Business Development at SolaREIT. With nearly two decades of experience across renewable energy development, financing, and offtake, Jay brings deep industry expertise, a strong partner network, and a collaborative leadership style to our growing Business Development team.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. 

I live in the Philadelphia suburbs with my wife, our three kids, a dog, and six chickens. I first entered the renewable energy industry in 2007 after earning my MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I spent 15 years at Community Energy, where I worked across solar development, asset sales, and offtake. I did the PPA on  the first utility-scale solar project in Virginia with Amazon in 2015.  I also led the offtake, development and financing of the largest solar projects in Pennsylvania, including the City of Philadelphia's 70 MW project and the 220 MW Great Cove projects with University of Pennsylvania offtake.. 

What inspired you to join SolaREIT? 

I was excited by the opportunity to pivot from power purchase agreement structuring, which had been my primary focus for the past five years, while leveraging my renewable development and finance experience. I was also drawn to the chance to work closely with SolaREIT's CEO and Co-Founder, Laura Pagliarulo, and support her vision for the company. 

What has been your most rewarding experience at SolaREIT? 

One of the most rewarding aspects of joining SolaREIT has been reconnecting with the many colleagues and friends I've worked with over the years at Community Energy, AES, and Pine Gate, many of whom are now at different organizations across the industry. Being able to re-engage those relationships while offering a truly value-added solution has been incredibly rewarding. 

How do you see the future of renewable energy and SolaREIT's role in it? 

This is a challenging moment for solar and battery storage development, particularly when it comes to raising development capital. I believe SolaREIT plays an important role in supporting our partners by unlocking land value to provide much-needed liquidity. That flexibility can make a meaningful difference in assisting projects to move forward during uncertain market conditions. 

What has surprised you most about working at SolaREIT? 

The Business Development team is incredibly collaborative and supportive. It's a fast-paced environment with strong deal flow and ambitious goals, but there's a genuine commitment to helping one another succeed. The team is focused on what's best for our clients and the company as a whole, not just individual targets. 

What do you enjoy doing outside of the office? 

I co-host the Re-Energize podcast with a friend, where we speak with colleagues across the industry about their experiences and what they've learned working in renewable energy. I also spend a lot of time making music. I play guitar, sing, and write songs, and I've released two albums, Here We Are and Alive in the Radio Age, on streaming platforms. I also have a new record out this month.