Solar+ Schools

NC GreenPower’s Solar+ Schools program launched in 2015. Every year, we provide grants for solar educational projects for K-12 schools across North Carolina, complete with a weather station, data monitoring, a STEM curriculum from NEED.org and training for teachers.

See our FAQ section for answers to common questions. If you have a question that has not been answered, please contact us at solarschools@ncgreenpower.org using the subject line “Solar+ Schools question – [insert school name].”

2023 Solar+ Schools are announced!

NC GreenPower is excited to announce their largest grant award yet for the Solar+ Schools program. Selected schools will receive a solar educational package that includes a 20-kilowatt (kW) solar array, STEM curricula, teacher training and more.

The schools who have currently accepted the grant are:

• Cape Hatteras Secondary School, Dare County
• CB Eller Elementary School, Wilkes County
• First Flight Elementary School, Dare County
• Lakeforest Elementary School, Pitt County
• Manteo Middle School, Dare County
• MINA Charter School, Lee County*
• Mulberry Elementary School, Wilkes County
• New Garden Friends School, Guilford County
• North Wilkes High School, Wilkes County
• Parkwood High School, Union County
• Parkwood Middle School, Union County
• Prospect Elementary School, Union County
• Victory Christian Academy, Halifax County*

*Indicates new county in the Solar+ Schools program

More will be announced later.

The application link is still live. Should you wish to be considered in a future grant cycle, please fill out the application and we will keep your school’s information for the next award round.

Fully funded 20-kilowatt (kW) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Installations

Prior to starting your application, please review the Application Information PDF and Application Questions PDF to see all questions that will be on the application.

NC GreenPower Solar+ Schools will be installing 20-kW solar PV systems to be designed as roof-mounted or ground-mounted arrays. Both system designs must be installed in prominent, visible locations at the school (e.g., front of the school, carpool line). Any North Carolina K-12 school in a Tier 1 or Tier 2 county, as defined by the NC Department of Commerce, may apply.

NC GreenPower estimates that there will be funding for up to 15 school grants in 2023. The total number of awards will depend on donations made to the program. NC GreenPower’s grant will pay for all of the project’s construction. Schools should raise $3,500 to cover any operations and maintenance (O&M) costs. The school or PTA will need to raise the funds and then retain them for future O&M use.

Need help convincing your school leadership? Download “Why your school should apply for an NC GreenPower Solar+ Schools grant”

2022 Solar+ Schools

NC GreenPower is pleased to award our 2022 North Carolina Solar+ Schools with a grant for the installation of an educational solar PV array, valued at $42,000. In addition to the array, the schools will receive donated SunPower solar modules, a STEM curriculum, teacher training and more. The new schools join 56 other awardees since the Solar+ Schools program launched in 2015. For the first time, 20 schools were awarded solar installations, the most in the program’s history.

The schools who have accepted the grant are:

• Apex Friendship High School – Wake County | Fundraising Campaign
• Brevard Academy – Transylvania County | Fundraising Campaign | Solar PV data here
• Camden Middle School – Camden County | Fundraising Campaign
• Cox Mill High School – Cabarrus County | Fundraising Campaign
• Discovery Charter School – Durham County | Fundraising Campaign | Solar PV data here
• Eckerd Connects Residential Boys Academy – Wilkes County | Fundraising Campaign | Solar PV data here
• Elon Elementary School – Alamance County | Fundraising Campaign
• Green Level High School, Wake County | Fundraising Campaign
• Hope Academy – Guilford County | Fundraising Campaign
• Kingswood STEM Montessori Elementary School, Wake County | Fundraising Campaign
• McGee’s Crossroads Middle – Johnston County | Fundraising Campaign
• Rockford Elementary School – Surry County | Fundraising Campaign
• Traphill Elementary School – Wilkes County | Fundraising Campaign
• Wake STEM Early College High School, Wake County | Fundraising Campaign
• Watauga High School – Watauga County | Fundraising Campaign | Solar PV data here
• Winston-Salem Montessori – Forsyth County | Fundraising Campaign

Want to get on our email list for Solar+ Schools updates? VISIT THIS PAGE

School Site Walks with Solar Installer	Q4 2022-Q1 2023
Expected Start/End Dates for Solar PV Construction	Q1/Q3 2023
Virtual Teacher Curriculum Training	March/April 2023
	*The above dates are tentative and subject to change

The Details

In addition, awardees receive nearly $14,000 in related benefits, such as:

• Donated SunPower solar modules
• A STEM curriculum
• Teacher training

School fundraising goals will be fixed, based on a scaled model and range from $6,000 – $12,000.

We are also pleased to be partnered with the State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) Foundation, offering up to $20,000 as part of a challenge grant to select public schools, increasing their system to 5 kilowatts.