Southwest Virginia schools, local governments urge fair access to solar

CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, New Economy Program Manager Appalachian Voices chelsea@appvoices.org 276-207-9636 NORTON, VA. – Several school boards and counties in Southwest Virginia are calling on local leaders and Appalachian Power Company to allow fair access to solar energy for their public facilities in the utility’s Southwest Virginia territory. The Wise County and Tazewell County school…

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Solar Workgroup of Southwest Va hosts info session for businesses, nonprofits and government

CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, New Economy Program Manager chelsea@appvoices.org 276-207-9636 Norton, VA — The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia will host a virtual information session on September 30 at 10:30am for non-residential building owners interested in pursuing cost-effective solar projects. The event is part of the workgroup’s recently announced Securing Solar For Southwest Virginia program, which…

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Groups challenge TVA’s plan to lock local power companies into perpetual contracts

Contacts: Scott Smallwood | SELC | ssmallwood@selcga.org | 770-598-0111 Ward Archer| Protect Our Aquifer | ward@protectouraquifer.org | 901-355-0515 Brianna Knisley | Appalachian Voices | brianna@appvoices.org | 937-725-0645 Daniel Tait | Energy Alabama | dtait@alcse.org | 256-812-1431 MEMPHIS – The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), on behalf of Protect Our Aquifer, Energy Alabama and Appalachian Voices,…

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Virginia commission advances solar in coalfield region

CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, Appalachian Voices New Economy Program Manager, chelsea@appvoices.org, 276-207-9636 Southwest Virginia’s coal-bearing region is significantly closer to reaping the benefits of rooftop solar on businesses, nonprofits, schools and other government buildings. The Virginia State Corporation Commission on Friday issued an order updating guidelines for its renewable energy pilot program for third-party power purchase…

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Virginia opens the door for independent proposals for solar projects in Southwest Virginia

CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes 276-207-9636 chelsea@appvoices.org Cat McCue 434-293-6373 cat@appvoices.org The Virginia State Corporation Commission has announced that it is re-opening acceptance of registrations for third-party, non-utility owners of solar generation through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). The pilot program has been closed to registrations since January when the previous state limit on such arrangements was reached.…

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Southwest Virginia seeks partners for solar development

people by solar panel

CONTACT: Adam Wells, Regional Director of Community and Economic Development, adam@appvoices.org, 276-679-1691 Norton, VA — The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia today released a Request for Information (RFI) for a “co-development concept” for commercial-scale solar projects throughout the seven-county coalfield region. The workgroup seeks to enter into an agreement to collaboratively identify, design and develop…

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