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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.

Eligible counties for Coalfield Solar Fund

Public school districts and community colleges in the following counties:

West Virginia: Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Harrison, Kanawha, Lewis, Logan, Marion, McDowell, Mercer, Mineral, Mingo, Monongalia, Nicholas, Preston, Raleigh, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, Upshur, Webster, Wyoming

Virginia: Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, Wise and the City of Norton

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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
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1. April 17

Deadline to
submit notices of interest.

2. April - July

Secure Solar Futures contacts applicants, completes a free Solar Value Analysis, and performs site visits to determine whether the applicant is a good candidate for on-site solar power. Approval notices sent out on a rolling basis.

3. May - August

Schools who have completed a Solar Value Analysis with Secure Solar Futures will complete the final steps of their application. Submitted applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

4. September 15

Grant award winners will be announced, pending execution of a solar PPA with Secure Solar Futures. Depending on the applicant pool, some may be placed on a waiting list for the following year.

To learn more, attend one of our informational webinars on Thursday, April 6 or Wednesday, April 12.

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.