NC GreenPower announces fifth 2017 Solar School grant awardee: Cove Creek School

January 23, 2018

RALEIGH, NC – NC GreenPower launched a pilot program on April 1, 2015 to provide matching grants for the installation of a solar PV array at schools, providing clean, green renewable energy in North Carolina. The NC GreenPower Board of Directors’ review committee met last spring to evaluate applications and make selections for 2017’s pilot program. The initial four schools selected were:

• Alleghany High School, Alleghany County
• Helena Elementary School, Person County
• Lake Lure Classical Academy, Rutherford County
• Richmond Early College High School, Richmond County

NC GreenPower is pleased to announce that a fifth school is now taking part in our Pilot Year Three. Cove Creek School is a PreK-8^th grade school in Vilas, NC (Watauga County). Cove Creek Elementary School was recently selected to replace another school that had previously been chosen to receive the grant award.

The program opened Pilot Year Four earlier this year and applications are being accepted until Wednesday, February 28, 2018. Any K-12 school in North Carolina may apply to receive a 50% matching grant, up to $10,000. NC GreenPower will assist in marketing fundraising campaigns launched on my.NCGreenPower.org through social media channels and at events to help the school with raising funds and awareness. As part of the pilot, NC GreenPower will also provide monitoring equipment, curriculum and classroom kits for educators to use along with the solar PV installation, providing a hands-on experience for their students.

For information about the pilot and how to apply, visit www.ncgreenpower.org/solar-schools/

Recipients of this year’s grants will be announced on May 11, 2018. The selected schools will have until September 28, 2018 to raise their funds and will utilize the NC GreenPower fundraising website, my.NCGreenPower.org.

NC GreenPower is also pleased to announce that the State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) members via the SECU Foundation has recently increased their challenge grant amount. The SECU Foundation will provide a total investment of up to $150,000, awarding a $15,000 challenge grant to ten K-12 public schools, with a preference given to schools in Tier 1 counties; these schools must also meet NC GreenPower’s program requirements for the installation of a pole-mounted solar PV system on school campuses. The SECU Foundation’s challenge grant will enable each school to increase the system size from 3 kW to a larger 5 kW solar array. These systems serve as educational tools in the classroom but also provide an energy impact, likely producing enough renewable energy to power a school’s main office. A 5 kW solar array produces an estimated 6,570 kilowatt hours with a potential cost savings of $657 annually.

About NC GreenPower

With the mission of improving the quality of the environment in North Carolina, the nonprofit NC GreenPower was founded in 2003 as a statewide program. NC GreenPower helps to connect consumers with renewable energy and carbon offset providers to create positive environmental and economic impacts for our state. All projects supported by the program are located in North Carolina. In 2015, NC GreenPower launched a new pilot to support solar PV installations at K-12 schools. Contributions to NC GreenPower are tax-deductible. For more information, visit: www.ncgreenpower.org

About SECU and the SECU Foundation

A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 80 years.  The Credit Union also offers a diversified line of financial advisory services including retirement and education planning, tax preparation, insurance, trust and estate planning services, and investments through its partners and affiliated entities.  SECU serves over 2.25 million members through 262 branch offices, nearly 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Member Services via phone and a website, www.ncsecu.org.  The SECU Foundation, a 501c (3) charitable organization funded solely by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare and human services.  Since 2004, SECU Foundation has made a collective financial commitment of more than $130 million for initiatives to benefit North Carolinians statewide.