Solar Market Pathways

In 2015, the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) received federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative to help 15 member colleges develop comprehensive plans for implementing solar power on their campuses. The participating colleges included Appalachian School of Law, Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, Emory & Henry College, Ferrum College, Hampton University, Mary Baldwin University, Marymount University, Randolph College, Roanoke College, Shenandoah University, University of Lynchburg, Virginia Union University, and Washington & Lee University. CICV is one of only 15 organizations nation-wide to receive one of these Solar Market Pathways grants.

The three-year program was designed to help the colleges navigate the complex legal, regulatory, and technical challenges associated with installing solar systems, leverage group purchasing power to achieve price reductions for hardware and installation services, and create a learning network accessible by other organizations considering solar power. Students, faculty, and staff will also pursue ways the solar project can help enhance their curricula, clinical learning experiences, and community outreach and service.

In 2018, a second phase, "Educating Colleges About Solar Energy", was launched when funding was received from an anonymous foundation to assist additional schools develop plans for implementing solar power on their campuses. Bluefield College, Hampden-Sydney College and Virginia Wesleyan University are pursuing this opportunity. This phase of the program also will contain an educational component, with an Energy Symposium tentatively planned for the fall of 2019.

For additional information about CICV’s Solar Market Pathways project, please contact CICV.