Solar on Schools in West Virginia

Why this school solar project was difficult to finance

To avoid upfront costs, Wayne County Schools chose to pursue a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Solar Holler, a West Virginia-based solar developer. Under a PPA, the developer finances, builds, and owns the solar systems, while the school district purchases the electricity at a fixed, predictable rate over time. The model is straightforward in theory, but difficult in practice. Developers need long-term revenue certainty at a sufficient price to secure financing, while electricity prices must remain low enough for schools to see real savings. In Wayne County, those two requirements did not initially align. The projects penciled out close to viability, but not quite. Without additional revenue, the projects were stalled.

High-Impact REC contracts tip the scales

Corporate climate commitments provided the missing piece. Ever.green aggregated long-term demand from corporate buyers committed to adding new renewable energy to the grid through projects that also deliver measurable community benefits. By entering into long-term High-Impact REC contracts at a meaningful price, these corporate buyers supplied the additional and predictable revenue Solar Holler needed to move the projects forward.

With that revenue certainty in place, Solar Holler could offer Wayne County Schools a PPA rate that generated immediate savings for the district while still meeting financing requirements.

This structure works because it aligns the needs of each participant. Corporate buyers support renewable energy projects that add new clean energy to the grid while delivering tangible community benefits. Solar Holler receives premium REC pricing that enables competitive PPA rates without compromising project viability. Wayne County Schools realize immediate energy savings with zero upfront investment.

A community-rooted partnership

Solar Holler is a West Virginia company, deeply connected to the communities where it works. Many staff members graduated from Wayne County schools or have children enrolled there today. Beyond installing solar systems, Solar Holler operates internship and workforce development programs for local high school students, creating pathways into renewable energy careers without requiring students to leave their communities. Between 60 and 80 percent of participants are hired into full-time roles after graduation.

As Solar Holler explains, “a lot of our staff actually graduated from some of the schools in Wayne County, or they have kids attending those schools today. When the opportunity presented itself, it just made sense for us to start here.”

Turning energy savings into teaching careers

For Wayne County Schools, the financial impact is immediate and measurable. Annual energy savings of approximately $150,000 to $200,000 flow directly back into the district’s operating budget.

Across 15 schools, Solar Holler installed 3.2 MW of solar capacity, generating more than 3,750 MWh of clean electricity each year. These projects avoid roughly 2,400 metric tons of CO₂ annually, equivalent to taking about 560 cars off the road every year. The benefits extend beyond emissions reductions and school budgets. The projects created local installation jobs, supported long-term employment in the region, and brought renewable energy directly into daily community life.

When renewable energy becomes local, perceptions change

Solar on school rooftops makes renewable energy visible and tangible. The community is experiencing the energy transition firsthand, not as something theoretical happening elsewhere. When people see renewable energy working in their own community, benefiting their own schools, it reshapes what they believe is possible.

Connecting corporate climate capital to community-scale renewable energy

Wayne County demonstrates how corporate climate commitments can be structured to directly enable community-scale renewable energy projects that traditional financing often overlooks. Nearly 8,000 rural school districts across the United States face similar budget pressures, collectively spending billions of dollars on energy each year that could instead support students and educators.

Ever.green’s approach creates a clear channel for corporate climate dollars to reach projects that deliver impact beyond clean electrons. When corporate buyers, mission-aligned developers, and community needs come together, the result is durable, locally grounded climate action with benefits that extend far beyond the grid.