Solar - December 14, 2020
Virginia schools across seven counties to receive onsite solar power
Twenty-one schools in Virginia will be powering their operations with solar power through a new partnership announced Dec. 11.
BrightSuite Solar, a subsidiary of Dominion Energy, and Sun Tribe will be working together on financing and installation for the project. It is expected that over the lifetime of the solar projects, the schools will offset the combined equivalent of more than 310,000 tons of CO2.
The new solar arrays will be installed at schools in Arlington, Fluvanna, Hanover, King William, Newport News, Powhatan and Virginia Beach counties. The projects will have a combined capacity of 11 MW and will be installed either on the rooftops of select school buildings or ground-mounted on the property.
The energy produced will go directly toward the energy needs of that school, while reducing their electric utility bills through the Commonwealth’s net metering program. The school divisions pay no upfront costs under the PPAs and will receive the long term energy cost savings associated with the project during its lifetime.
“It's clear why there's so much demand for solar: these projects prove that a brighter, cleaner future for every community in Virginia is possible when we work together,” Devin Welch, CEO of Sun Tribe Solar, said in a statement. “At a moment when educational leaders throughout the Commonwealth are grappling with significant budget challenges while also looking for creative ways to engage with their students, more and more school divisions are embracing this opportunity to save money while bringing real-life science into the classroom.”
Students and educators will also have access to the solar systems for educational purposes to broaden access to STEM topics and raise awareness about renewable career pathways.
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