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The Coalfield Solar Fund was created to enable and incentivize public school systems and community colleges to choose solar energy while avoiding the traditional barriers of large upfront costs and complex procurement processes.

Once they arrange to go solar with Secure Solar Futures under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with no upfront cost, grantees may use unrestricted awards from the Coalfield Solar Fund in a variety of creative ways including new sustainability initiatives. Institutions and their local area benefit from the job creation and investment deployed to provide renewable energy to public facilities.

Who Is Eligible?

Public school districts and community colleges in the following counties:

West Virginia: As designated by the US Department of Energy definition of an Energy Community, all West Virginia counties, except for Jefferson County, are eligible for participation in the Coalfield Solar Fund.

Virginia: Counties of Allegheny, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Campbell, Carroll, Clarke, Craig, Fauquier, Floyd, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Grayson, Henry, Highland, Lee, Montgomery, Page, Patrick, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Tazewell, Warren, Washington, Wise, Wythe. Cities of Bedford, Bristol, Buena Vista, Clifton Forge, Covington, Galax, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Norton, Radford, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton, Waynesboro, Winchester.

Funding Potential

Schools and community colleges will be eligible for up to $150,000 depending on the merit of the application and size of the potential solar project at their campuses. Applicants who are not awarded in this round will be placed on a waiting list for future rounds of funding if they become available.

Conditions

Eligible grantees must agree to the following to receive the grant:

Enter into 25-year solar PPAs with Secure Solar Futures
Partner with SSF on workforce development opportunities for students, such as apprenticeships and in-classroom learning

Application Process

Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis as applications are completed and approved until funds are completely allocated. The process for receiving on-site solar power with an incentive grant is as follows:

Complete a 5-minute form as a Notice of Interest (NOI) in the program
Secure Solar Futures will contact applicants to set up initial meetings, coordinate site visits, and share further details on application requirements
Interested party completes application with support from Secure Solar Futures
Secure Solar Futures completes an initial review and confirms solar feasibility, after which conditional grants are awarded
Conditional awardees must sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Secure Solar Futures and agree to start a solar education/workforce development program
Upon completion of grant conditions, the Grant Review Committee will review the project and grants will be awarded
Funds will be paid in two installments, 50% upon award of the project, and the remainder once construction is complete
Construction begins!

In the event the funding pool is empty at the time of award, applicants will be noted as high priority for the next round of funding.

Want to see solar panels on your local schools?
You can help!

Click the button below to begin the first phase of our simple two-step application process.

The Coalfield Solar Fund presents a first-of-its-kind opportunity to expand solar power adoption in coalfield communities of Virginia and West Virginia, while also providing meaningful workforce development pathways and STEM learning opportunities to public school students.

Interested in bringing solar to your school? Let your local school board representatives know about this innovative opportunity to bring educational, economic, and environmental benefits of on-site solar energy to your campus today.