2-3 hours of sun isn't enough for peppers and if he is lucky, really lucky, he may get a couple of late ripening tomatos.

Can a grow light be rigged up? I guess, but what an electrical hazard, not to mention expensive option.

I am really sorry to say this, because I have lived through it and know how disappointing it is, but there really is no good way to grow sun loving veggies on a shady property.

Maybe there is a small spot or two with more sun in which container gardening could be tried, but veggies simply require a lot of sun and not all properties have enough.

If trees are the reason for lack of light his money would be better spent having trees removed than investing in HID grow lights for outside.

If HID lights will be used best results come indoors where the veggies are enclosed in light reflective material like mylar.

What about growing things in pots? Then he can put them almost anywhere.

If it's trees, the canopy can be thinned-out to allow more sunlight in. Swiss Chard and some lettuces can grow in some shade but, 2-3 hours, I dunno.