Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • Solar tariffs
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractor’s Corner
      • Trends in Solar
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Policy
    • Monthly Snapshots
  • Markets
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Community Solar
    • Utility
  • Products
    • 2021 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Inverters
      • Global Manufacturing Locations
    • Racking and Mounting
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
      • Global Manufacturing Locations
  • Subscribe
  • Resources
    • About SPW
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Product Manufacturing Locations
      • Global Inverter Manufacturing Locations
      • Global Solar Panel Manufacturing Locations
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
    • Solar Classrooms
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
  • Leadership
    • Vote for the 2022 Leaders!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 Winners
    • 2018 Winners

Brightsuite Solar, Sun Tribe installing solar systems at 21 Virginia schools

By Billy Ludt | December 11, 2020

Share

Twenty-one schools across Virginia are reducing their carbon footprints by powering operations with solar energy through a partnership between Dominion Energy subsidiary BrightSuite Solar and Sun Tribe.

The solar arrays at schools in Arlington, Fluvanna, Hanover, King William, Newport News, Powhatan and Virginia Beach are being installed in partnership with Sun Tribe, and in total will generate more than 11 MW of solar energy at peak output.

Solar panels are installed either atop school buildings or ground-mounted on school property and provide renewable energy to fulfill a portion of the energy supply needs of the schools while reducing their electric utility bills through the Commonwealth’s net metering program using financing provided by BrightSuite.

“We are very excited to be able to partner with these schools to help them meet their renewable energy goals by lowering their carbon footprint and providing long-term cost savings,” said Todd Headlee, director of customer energy solutions, Dominion Energy. “We know schools, municipalities, and businesses are looking for renewable and sustainable energy options, and BrightSuite Solar is here to help customers find the solution that works best for them.”

Under the power purchase agreements, the school divisions pay no upfront cost and receive long term energy cost certainty and savings. Students and educators will have access to educational programming that uses their solar systems — introducing the Commonwealth’s youngest learners to foundational scientific concepts, broadening access to STEM and raising awareness about renewable career pathways.

“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,” said Devin Welch, CEO of Sun Tribe Solar. “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.”

The schools with projects currently underway include:

Since 2019, BrightSuite Solar has helped businesses and governments achieve their sustainability goals by providing customers with low-cost renewable energy solutions. By pairing Dominion Energy’s industry expertise and commitment to a cleaner energy future with a select network of Virginia based solar companies, BrightSuite Solar provides customers with turnkey solar solutions at no upfront cost.

BrightSuite Solar provides guidance throughout the process, including navigating Power Purchase Agreements (when applicable), design, financing, installation and interconnection.

With these 21 locations, Dominion Energy now has solar panels installed at 48 schools in Virginia through both BrightSuite solar and its educational Solar for Students program.

News item from Dominion Energy

About The Author

Billy Ludt

Billy Ludt is associate editor of Solar Power World and currently covers topics on mounting, installation and business for the magazine.

Comments

  1. Morgan Scott Phenix Ed.D. says

    December 13, 2020 at 9:28 pm

    Love it! We are facing opposition to solar on an industrial scale, but folks have not gotten used to the idea of solar. This report gives us reference points. Many thanks. Morgan Phenix, former elected Chair, Page County School Board; current elected Chair, Page County Board of Supervisors.

    Reply
  2. Solarman says

    December 11, 2020 at 2:09 pm

    ““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,” said Devin Welch, CEO of Sun Tribe Solar. “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.””

    Schools are often ‘open for business’ during solar PV generation hours, allowing more efficient use of the energy generated every day. Taking tax monies and using it for school programs instead of school electric bills, seems reasonable as a cost cutting measure.

    “Students and educators will have access to educational programming that uses their solar systems — introducing the Commonwealth’s youngest learners to foundational scientific concepts, broadening access to STEM and raising awareness about renewable career pathways.”

    This is the pathway to the future, teach the children, they will expect to see alternative energy everywhere in their daily lives. This is how you make a “sustainable” change in technology and use from now on.

    Reply

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

Related Articles Read More >

EV dealership goes greener with dual-axis solar tracker project
Babcock & Wilcox selected to build 20 MW of Illinois community solar
250-MW Arizona solar project 1 step closer to construction
Sunrun releases Level 2 EV charger to residential customers

SPW Digital Editions

Solar Power World Digital EditionBrowse the current issue and archived issues of Solar Power World in an easy-to-use, high-quality format. Bookmark, share and interact with the leading solar construction magazine today.

Contractor's Corner Podcast

July 25, 2022
Contractor's Corner: Built Well Solar
See More >

Solar Policy Snapshot

Solar policy differs across state lines and regions. Click to see our monthly roundup of recent legislation and research throughout the country.

Read More >

Solar Power World
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Solar Articles
  • Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Battery Power Tips
  • Top Products
  • Leadership
  • About/Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • WTWH Media

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • Solar tariffs
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractor’s Corner
      • Trends in Solar
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Policy
    • Monthly Snapshots
  • Markets
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Community Solar
    • Utility
  • Products
    • 2021 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Inverters
      • Global Manufacturing Locations
    • Racking and Mounting
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
      • Global Manufacturing Locations
  • Subscribe
  • Resources
    • About SPW
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Product Manufacturing Locations
      • Global Inverter Manufacturing Locations
      • Global Solar Panel Manufacturing Locations
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
    • Solar Classrooms
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
  • Leadership
    • Vote for the 2022 Leaders!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 Winners
    • 2018 Winners