Who We Are
ZNRG is a Maryland-based company operating across community energy infrastructure and affordable housing. We bring together financing expertise, permitting strategy, and construction partnerships to move projects from early development through implementation. Our approach is infrastructure-first: we build and support assets designed to serve communities for decades.
Our Approach
We take an infrastructure-first approach to development. That means disciplined project selection, strong financial structuring, experienced construction partners, and a long-term ownership mindset. Whether we’re building a solar portfolio or supporting an affordable housing project, our focus is the same: build durable assets that create lasting community value.
Leadership
Karan Takhar
Founder & CEO
Karan Takhar is the Founder and CEO of ZNRG, where he leads development strategy across community solar, affordable housing, and energy infrastructure. He brings experience in project finance, infrastructure coordination, and energy policy from his time at the U.S. Department of Energy and beyond. Karan is a former U.S. Fulbright Scholar and holds an MBA from the Wharton School and a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. He also launched the ZENERGY Podcast, which has featured 160+ interviews with leaders across the climate and energy field, including former Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation John Podesta and former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk.
Read MoreProject Delivery Team
ZNRG works with experienced project partners and contractors across engineering, procurement, construction, operations, and energy-efficiency implementation.
Amelia Driscoll
Project Coordinator
Amelia Driscoll supports program operations, partner coordination, and participant engagement across ZNRG’s workforce and implementation initiatives.
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Joe Enoch
EPC Lead — West Hampton & S&T Kentlands
Joe leads engineering, procurement, and construction on ZNRG’s West Hampton and S&T Kentlands projects, bringing 25+ years of experience scaling high-performing service and construction teams. A Baltimore native who grew up in a multi-generational family business, he holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Loyola University Maryland and is focused on delivering reliable, well-executed installations.
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Nate Mills
Operations Manager — West Hampton & S&T Middlebrook
Nate manages project operations for ZNRG’s West Hampton and S&T Middlebrook developments, drawing on more than two decades leading technically complex engineering efforts from design through construction. A former Navy officer who directed the procurement and construction of submarines and their supporting systems, he holds a Naval Engineer’s degree and an S.M. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, an M.S. in Earth and Planetary Sciences from the University of New Mexico, and a B.S. in Geology from Cornell University.
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Kurt Zwally
EPC Lead — Middlebrook
Kurt leads engineering, procurement, and construction on ZNRG’s Middlebrook project, with nearly a decade directing commercial solar EPC across the full project lifecycle — design and engineering, permitting and utility approvals, procurement, and construction through final commissioning. His background spans commercial PV development and financing partnerships across the Mid-Atlantic, along with prior work at the U.S. Department of Energy.
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Brendan Pugh
Community Solar EPC
Brendan supports engineering, procurement, and construction for ZNRG’s community solar projects. He is a NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP) — among the solar industry’s most respected credentials, recognizing advanced expertise in photovoltaic system installation, safety, and best practices.
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Stephen Elliott
Energy Efficiency Implementation
Stephen leads energy-efficiency implementation across ZNRG’s commercial projects, bringing deep expertise in building performance and energy systems. A licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and Certified Energy Manager (CEM), he has performed 100+ commercial energy audits spanning more than 10 million square feet across offices, military bases, and industrial facilities, and builds custom modeling tools to identify energy-conservation measures.
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Ashley Yang
Land Sourcing
Ashley helps lead ZNRG’s land-sourcing efforts, supporting site identification and outreach for the company’s community solar pipeline. A student at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School studying finance and AI, she brings research and analytical horsepower to early-stage parcel screening and landowner engagement.
Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions
About Community Solar
No. Community solar is subscription-based. You participate in a solar project built offsite and receive credits on your utility bill. There is no installation at your home or business.
No. You keep your existing utility provider (BGE, Pepco, or Delmarva). Solar credits are simply applied to your existing bill.
No. There are no upfront costs, installation fees, or equipment purchases. You subscribe and start saving.
Subscribers typically receive 5–20% savings on their electricity costs, depending on project allocation and energy usage.
Eligibility & Enrollment
Most residential and small commercial utility customers in BGE, Pepco, and Delmarva Power territories in Maryland are eligible. Renters are eligible. No credit check is required for most programs.
Use our enrollment form to check your eligibility. A member of our team will follow up with your savings estimate and next steps within 2 business days.
Yes. Cancellation terms vary by project, but most subscriptions allow cancellation with no penalty. Details are provided during enrollment.
About ZNRG
No. ZNRG is an infrastructure development company. We develop, finance, and manage community solar projects and provide development support for affordable housing projects. We partner with experienced contractors for construction.
No. While community solar is our most developed vertical, ZNRG also provides development support for affordable housing projects. We are currently supporting the delivery of 45 affordable housing units within a development in Gaithersburg, MD, and are actively expanding our affordable housing work across Maryland.
ZNRG is providing development support for 45 affordable housing units within a larger multifamily development at 913 & 917 Quince Orchard Road in the Kentlands neighborhood of Gaithersburg, MD. The project was approved by the Gaithersburg Planning Commission in February 2026. ZNRG’s role focuses on the affordable housing component, contributing to permitting strategy, financial structuring, and project coordination.
Potentially. We provide development support services including financing coordination, permitting strategy, and project structuring for affordable housing and energy infrastructure projects in Maryland. Contact us to discuss your project.
ZNRG Foundation is a separate nonprofit organization focused on workforce development across infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and public-purpose industries. It is not part of ZNRG Tech LLC.