Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia

08/26/2026

The SWVA Solar Workgroup had a great time tabling with Appalachian Voices at the Student Activities Fair this week! Thanks to all the students, faculty and community members for stopping by to chat.

08/20/2026

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has opened the host institution application process for the Energy Innovator Fellowship, which pairs critical energy organizations with professionals to advance clean energy projects. Eligible hosts, including state energy offices, utilities, and Tribal entities, can apply for 1-2 year fellowships aimed at accelerating energy innovation. Read the full announcement and learn how to apply on the official DOE website.

08/19/2026

At our July community meeting, HOMES, Inc. gave us the 411 on residential solar. In case you missed it, here are some of the benefits of solar panels!

- Rooftop solar helps you generate your own clean electricity.
- Lower your monthly electric bills.
- Reduce your carbon footprint with renewable energy.
- Pair with batteries for added resilience during outages.

08/06/2026

Shared solar makes clean energy accessible to everyone! These programs allow renters, homeowners and businesses to subscribe to an off-site solar array. No rooftop installation needed!

Program benefits include:
- No installation costs for participating buildings
- Works for all qualifying utility customers
- No maintenance needs for participants
- Reduced energy bills

If you're interested in looking into shared solar programs available in southwest Virginia, they will soon be available to Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company customers.

Appalachian Power’s Shared Solar Program currently has 18 awarded projects awaiting installation, with availability expected to grow through 2029 thanks to state legislation.

08/04/2026

Our friends from Solar United Neighbors gave a great presentation on plug-in solar at our July community meeting! In case you missed it, here's a quick breakdown of some of the benefits of plug-in solar.

Plug-in solar, also known as balcony solar or plug-in photovoltaics, consists of portable solar panels that offset electricity use by feeding current straight into a wall outlet.

Benefits:
- Generate enough electricity to power refrigerators or other small to mid-sized appliances
- Can be easily mounted on balconies, porches, patios, and fences
- Plug into your wall outlet to feed power directly into your home for on-site consumption
- Reduce energy bills

Annual savings average ~$385, with the installation cost being $400-$2000 and a payback period of 5 years.

07/29/2026

Check out this article featuring two Minnesota solar farms that transformed bare, unused land into thriving ecosystems by planting native grasses and wildflowers beneath panels. Over five years, this initiative demonstrated that solar energy can be used to simultaneously generate clean electricity and restore vital wildlife habitats!

Two Minnesota solar farms planted 66 native species under their panels. Five years of counting revealed a staggering result that nobody had written into the engineering plan.

07/27/2026

Huge thank you to everyone who came out for our July Community Meeting this past Wednesday at the Appalachian Art Center in Cedar Bluff, Va! We loved meeting you all and talking all things residential solar.

After sharing a delicious meal, we dove into presentations from our guest speakers:

- Bobby "Fuzz" Johnson with HOMES, Inc. discussed residential solar, providing some information about net-metered systems and the long term cost benefits.

- Austin Counts with Appalachian Voices provided information about how shared solar works, and some of the shared solar programs currently available.

- Kenny Eye with Solar United Neighbors gave us an overview on plug-in solar, its history, and how it works.

We wrapped up the night with a lively Q&A and group activities tackling solar myths and exploring ways to keep local solar education going. Thanks for being such an active part of our community!

07/21/2026

Check out our new Solsquatch t-shirt colorways, fresh off the press! Want to snag one? Keep an eye on our upcoming events, or come to our Tazewell Community Meeting for a chance to win one as a door prize.

07/18/2026

Huge news for Virginia homeowners! Virginia is officially the first state to launch a statewide "Switch Together" program led by our friends at Solar United Neighbors . The initiative will make it easier and cheaper to go solar through group purchasing. We love seeing solar energy become more affordable and accessible for everyone 🌞

Virginia is launching a first-in-the-nation solar program that could help homeowners save thousands on installation and lower energy bills.