FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2025
CONTACT
Dan Radmacher, Media Specialist, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org
WISE, Va. — This May, the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia is hosting the inaugural Solar Virginia Solar Summit for residents and local governments of Southwest Virginia. The event will be open to the public on May 21 between 3 and 7 p.m. on the UVA Wise Campus.
The event will feature a series of short panels and presentations on all things solar energy, a live solar competition for middle and high school teams, and live local musicians. Solar companies, solar agriculture companies, non-profit organizations, local businesses, and more will be set up around the event to answer questions from attendees. Registration is free and comes with a free food ticket and access to all musical performances and kids’ activities. Community members may come and go as they are available.
“Southwest Virginia is seeing increased interest from solar companies and utilities,” said Appalachian Voices Southwest Virginia Solar and Electrification Projects Manager Austin Counts. “At the same time, local residents and governments want to learn about these opportunities more than ever. Our goal is for community members to get the information they need to understand how solar development could impact the region while enjoying an evening of music and food.”
The event will provide opportunities to speak directly with solar companies, not-for-profits, farmers that utilize solar fields and more. Food, drink and entertainment will be provided.
“Well-designed and thoughtfully sited solar energy projects can create positive opportunities for homeowners, businesses, schools, landowners and communities in our region,” said Brad Kreps, Clinch Valley Program Director of The Nature Conservancy. “Community conversations around solar energy projects are important and this summit is a great opportunity for dialogue and information sharing.”
The SWVA Solar Summit is free and open to the public. Participants can RSVP at www.swvasolar.org/swva-solar-summit/ or by contacting Austin Counts at austin@appvoices.org/(276) 591-2175.
The event is partially sponsored by the Virginia Coalfields Economic Development Agency.
ABOUT The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia: The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia is a group of nonprofit and community action agencies, colleges, state agencies, and other interested citizens and businesses seeking to develop a renewable energy industry cluster in the seven coalfield counties of Southwest Virginia. For more information on the Solar Workgroup, visit swvasolar.org.
