A brighter future for Virginia’s rural schools

As the current superintendent of the Fluvanna County Public Schools and now in my 35th year as a Virginia educator, I have had the responsibility and privilege of impacting the education of countless students. I constantly strive to find creative ways to maximize our community’s resources as efficiently as possible. This can be especially challenging for smaller, rural communities where resources are limited.

I am proud of the bipartisan work our General Assembly has done to promote and make available a win-win solution to help address this resource challenge by reducing our energy costs 25%. Two bills, House Bill 1934 and Senate Bill 1192, passed the Virginia General Assembly this session with overwhelming bipartisan support. Both bills provide a way for schools to significantly reduce their electric bills with rooftop solar.  

Putting rooftop solar on our rural schools is cost-effective, pollution-free, and provides a locally-made source of power. Though largely untapped as a community-based solution, solar can be installed on schools much more quickly than a big power plant can be built to meet energy needs. It’s an immediate opportunity to equip school systems to maximize savings and   fund critical educational tools for Virginia’s students.

Solar for schools and nonprofits is under siege. Fortunately, there’s a simple fix.

Today, about 90 schools across more than 25 school divisions in the commonwealth have rooftop solar panels. This isn’t just a great idea  — it’s a working model spanning rural, suburban and urban communities. But we’re only scratching the surface of what we could — and should — be doing. With more than 2,250 public school buildings in Virginia, only 4% are currently benefiting from generating energy with solar arrays on their rooftops. The potential savings for Virginia’s schools is enormous! In Fluvanna, we’ve realized nearly 25% in actual energy cost savings since going solar in 2020. 

Once signed into law, these bills will unlock that potential for all communities. The legislation prioritizes public schools that invest in solar by providing them with the opportunity to sell the renewable credits that their solar facilities produce. The sale of renewable credits makes these smaller, rooftop solar installations on schools more economically viable, enabling districts like ours to move forward with projects that would otherwise sit just out of reach.

The benefits are impossible to overstate. Solar on schools equals dollars for schools and savings for communities. That’s money that can be put directly back into classrooms supporting teachers, updating instructional resources, expanding programs and modernizing technology to give our kids what they need to succeed. These are long-term savings that will benefit generations of students while easing the burden on taxpayers.

Solar also offers significant advantages in energy planning and reliability. Virginia’s energy demand is projected to grow by at least 5% each year in the Dominion Energy service territory. We need every tool available to meet that growth responsibly, and schools are perfectly positioned to be part of the solution. Rooftop solar allows schools to become energy producers, helping to stabilize the grid and reduce energy burdens.

Solar on schools strengthens resiliency. Many schools serve as community shelters during storms and emergencies. Equipping them with solar panels will enhance their ability to function when the grid goes down. It’s not just about cost savings; it’s about preparedness and crisis response.

Solar projects on schools offer great learning potential, too. Solar installations present a dynamic lab opportunity where students can learn about energy, sustainability and environmental stewardship in real time. These systems can be integrated into science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curricula, sparking interest in high-demand energy careers and helping build a workforce ready for Virginia’s economy.

Virginia is on the path to an affordable, sustainable energy future that uses every energy lever at our disposal. Prioritizing solar installations for schools through HB 1934 and SB 1192 ensures Virginia stays on that path. It supports our schools, our students, and our state’s economy. Virginia’s public schools are ready to do their part, and the governor’s signature on these bills would make it all possible.