Community solar is an affordable renewable energy option for residents who cannot secure rooftop solar due to logistical constraints.
Distributed, Clean Generation
When appropriately sited, renewable options such as solar, wind and geothermal, can perform an extremely valuable function – providing peak power close to the load, energy security, cost savings, local employment opportunities, and emissions reductions.
Powering Progress Through Rooftop Solar
Distributed rooftop solar has many benefits as we build out the clean energy needed to reach the 100% zero-carbon-emissions standard laid out in Virginia’s Clean Economy Act (VCEA).
Get Distributed Solar for Your Home, Farm or Business
It’s solar season! Solarize Piedmont, our annual campaign with the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP), is running now through the end of August.
PEC Presentation on Data Centers & Virginia’s Clean Energy Future
On June 10, 2023, The Piedmont Environmental Council hosted our annual meeting in Loudoun County and featured a workshop on data centers and Virginia’s clean energy future. The presentation, given by PEC’s Senior Energy and Climate Policy Analyst Ashish Kapoor and Director of Land Use Julie Bolthouse, is available to view and download below.
Resources from our Solar on the Farm Workshop
On Friday, January 27, 2023, more than seventy participants gathered together to learn more about small agricultural solar. This workshop hosted by The Piedmont Environmental Council covered the latest information on incentives offered by USDA Rural Energy for America Program for improving energy efficiency and/or installing renewable energy, information about ag net metering and small generators options with utilities, tools for analyzing return on investment and tips for finding reputable solar installers.
Solarize Piedmont 2021 campaign available in ten different localities
The Solarize Piedmont program is back through June 30 and available to homeowners and business owners in Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock counties, and the City of Charlottesville. Solarize Piedmont makes adding solar power, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging stations to homes and businesses easier and more affordable than ever, by leveraging the collective buying power of many to provide a one-stop shop for solar education, vetted installers, and discounted pricing.
Local Renewable Options
Our list of some local renewable energy providers is a good place to start investigating regional clean energy options.
Small-Scale Solar
Virginia has great solar potential– ranked 22nd of the 50 states, Virginia has more solar potential than New Jersey, the East Coast photovoltaic (PV) leader.