CBS19: Lawmakers tour rooftop solar array at rural elementary school

CBS19

State and national lawmakers got to look at a new solar energy array that has been installed at Powhatan Elementary School.

According to a release, the rooftop array was installed by Sun Tribe and BrightSuite Solar, a subsidiary of Dominion Energy, and other arrays will be developed through this partnership.

“Today is an exciting moment for Powhatan County Public Schools and Virginia’s Seventh District, and I am thrilled to help celebrate Powhatan Elementary School’s installation of this solar array,” said U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger. “As our nation looks to tackle the climate crisis and make smart investments to combat the challenges we face, solar energy is a key part of a climate-smart future. The continued growth of this important sector in Central Virginia and across the Commonwealth is creating high-paying, secure jobs for many of our neighbors, and I’m proud to see our communities embrace new ways to create affordable, sustainable energy sources.”

“Projects like the ones we’ve built in Powhatan County show why a growing number of school divisions throughout Virginia are embracing solar: because it provides a chance to save money while opening educational opportunities for more young people,” said Rich Allevi, Vice President of Development at Sun Tribe. “Thanks to Power Purchase Agreements, educational, local government, and nonprofit leaders will continue to have the ability to access affordable clean energy which will benefit their organizations and their communities.”

The release says there is also a solar array on Powhatan Middle School, which is next door to the elementary school. The two arrays can produce more than 960 kilowatts.

State Senator Ghazala Hashmi and Delegate R. Lee Ware also attended the unveiling.

The release says clean energy jobs are expected to continue growing across Virginia, with more than 93,000 Virginians currently working in advanced energy fields.

For more information on this project, click here.