Launch of Appalachian Solar Finance Fund expected to spur solar in coal-impacted communities

News Release
October 29, 2021

Editor’s note: The following press release was submitted by The Appalachian Voice, a publication of Appalachian Voices, which you can learn about by clicking on the embedded links.

BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA — The Appalachian Solar Finance Fund (SFF), a new program to jump-start commercial and institutional solar projects in coal-impacted communities throughout Central Appalachia, will launch on Thursday, November 4 with a webinar at noon Eastern Time.

The SFF will use a recent $1.5 million ARC POWER Initiative award to deploy select subgrant awards for solar projects on nonprofit and public buildings. The SFF also will facilitate competitive technical assistance contracts for solar installations on commercial enterprises and will develop additional investment and credit enhancement strategies to unlock more solar deployment in the region.

During this webinar, members of the SFF Executive Committee will discuss the history of the fund, its purpose and goals, and the structure of the program. Attendees will learn about the program’s available financing tools, applicant eligibility criteria and the application process for entities and developers seeking funding for solar projects. Speakers include:

Adam Wells, Regional Director of Community & Economic Development, Appalachian Voices
Hannah Vargason, Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives, Partner Community Capital
Marc Palmer, Co-Founder and CEO, New Resource Solutions
Andrew Crosson, CEO, Invest Appalachia

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A. Commercial, government and nonprofit building owners and facilities managers, and solar developers and installation professionals are encouraged to attend and bring questions about the process. Media are also welcome to attend to learn more about the program and how it works.

RSVP here to attend.

The Appalachian Solar Finance Fund is a project of Appalachian Voices, the Central Appalachian Network, Partner Community Capital, Invest Appalachia and New Resource Solutions that aims to accelerate solar development and economic growth in Central Appalachia. Support for the Appalachian Solar Finance Fund is provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER Initiative, the Appalachian Investment Ecosystem Initiative, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, New York Community Trust and other pending sources.

The resulting solar projects will produce a powerful convergence of employment opportunities, business creation, new investments and wealth retention in Central Appalachian communities directly impacted by the decline in the coal economy.