Northampton has a new place to plug in, learn about electric vehicles, and reconnect with what a clean-energy future can look like, and it’s powered by the sun!

At 5 Fulton Avenue, just off King Street, DC Station is transforming what used to be the Pleasant Journey Car Lot into a lively, clean-energy destination. With fast Level-3 EV charging, native landscaping, and a thoughtfully designed plaza, it’s built from the ground up to make sustainable travel easier and more visible in our region.

PV Squared, a worker-owned solar design and installation cooperative based in Greenfield, is proud to have designed and installed the solar canopy and rooftop array that power this new hub.

From Car Lot to Clean-Energy Landmark

Where rows of gas-powered vehicles once stood, there’s now a modern, Scandinavian-inspired building designed to host three commercial spaces.

The first of those spaces is now home to EV Base Camp, an EV car purchasing and learning center that helps drivers explore whether an electric vehicle is right for them, understand incentives, and navigate the transition to cleaner transportation.

As future tenants move in, DC Station will continue to evolve into a multi-purpose destination where people can charge their vehicles, learn, and gather; all within a landscape that showcases clean energy and climate-conscious design.

Above the EV charging stalls, a striking solar canopy generates clean electricity that directly offsets the station’s power use. The result is a site that doesn’t just host EV charging; it demonstrates what’s possible when renewable energy is woven into everyday infrastructure.

The solar canopy and rooftop array turn DC Station into a living example of clean design: a destination where sustainability is part of the experience rather than an afterthought.

A Vision for an Energy-Positive Future

DC Station is the brainchild of founder Bruce Volz, who set out to create an energy-positive landmark for Northampton and Western Massachusetts.

As architect Aelan Tierney of Kuhn Riddle Architects describes it, this project is Bruce’s way of “doing his part to leave the planet a better place; by making electric-vehicle ownership more viable, not just for Northampton residents, but for the many visitors passing through Western Massachusetts.”

That vision, combining EV charging, EV education, and community-focused space; resonates deeply with PV Squared’s own mission as a worker-owned cooperative. For more than twenty years, PV Squared has built solar projects that reflect the values of Western Massachusetts and Southern Vermont: craftsmanship, collaboration, and care for the places we call home.

“This project represents what we love most about our work: building systems that serve our community while moving us all toward a clean-energy future,”
— Alex Peterkin, President, PV Squared

Solar Craftsmanship, Cooperative Pride

As a worker-owned cooperative, PV Squared brings both technical precision and shared pride to every project; and DC Station is no exception.

The solar canopy is carefully integrated with the building’s architecture and the thoughtfully landscaped grounds. Native plantings, inviting outdoor areas, and the clean lines of the canopy work together to show how renewable energy, modern infrastructure, and local creativity can coexist beautifully.

The result is more than an EV station. It’s a welcoming, forward-looking public space, a place where education, conversation, and clean power converge.

Celebrating the Grand Opening

A Grand Opening Celebration for DC Station was held on Saturday, December 6th, from 2–5 p.m. Community members gathered at the site to explore its EV charging infrastructure, visit EV Base Camp, and celebrate with the many partners who helped bring the project to life.

PV Squared’s Commercial Sales Consultant, Josh Hilsdon, offered brief remarks during the event, speaking on behalf of the cooperative about sustainability, community impact, and PV Squared’s commitment to building a just, clean-energy future.

Even without National Grid’s final connection completed in time for the event, the celebration highlighted the project’s innovation, its collaborative spirit, and its promise as a model for regional clean transportation.

DC Station is more than a new place to plug in, it’s a glimpse of what a regenerative, community-powered future can look like.

Want to learn more about commercial solar projects like DC Station?