Brian McLaughlin Co-Founds PlanitWorks to Lead Clean Energy Revolution in Communities

This article is a reprint from The Washington Informed, dated May 15, 2024.

Brian McLaughlin, an experienced leader with more than 26 years of professional experience in the nonprofit, public and for-profit areas, has co-founded a business, PlanitWorks, that operates in the booming green energy industry.

“I want to drive the clean energy revolution into all communities,” said McLaughlin, a Silver Spring, Maryland resident. “I want solutions that work for the community, and I want solutions that work for the planet.”

McLaughlin is a founding partner and CEO of PlanitWorks, an end-to-end energy solutions development company specializing in sustainable housing and renewable energy projects on Tribal (Native American) lands and communities of color. Previously, McLaughlin served as the CEO or executive officer at five separate companies.

From 2019-2023, as a CEO, McLaughlin did one of the most complex mergers and portfolio acquisitions in the affordable housing industry, creating Enterprise Community Development with a $1.3 billion portfolio, standing among the five largest affordable housing nonprofits in the U.S. and a top 50 developer. He has also served as the assistant secretary of Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development for the state’s highest-level office in charge of neighborhood-based housing and community investments.

McLaughlin holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke University, a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in economics from American University.

He told the Informer that there aren’t enough Black entrepreneurs in the green energy field.

“The renewable energy space is so new,” he said, referring to products such as solar farms, solar rooftops, and geothermal devices. “Black entrepreneurs are not exposed to the same information that others have about these new technologies, and there is no group of people out there seeking to help you grow in the industry. As a result, you tend to be shut out and tend to be the last to learn about it.”

McLaughlin said PlanitWorks, based in Capitol Heights, Maryland, will teach people about the green energy economy and “tell people about it.” He said his company will develop a specialty in aiding HBCUs in making their buildings and physical facilities greener.