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, and STEM curriculum from NEED.org with training for teachers.

NC GreenPower Solar+ Schools will be installing fully funded 20-kW solar PV systems to be designed as roof-mounted arrays. The solar system must be installed in a prominent, visible location at the school (e.g., front of the school, carpool line). Any North Carolina K-12 public 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 9 school grants in 2024. 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”

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. 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].”

The 2024 application period closes Thursday, February 29, 2024, 11:59 PM EST.

2023 Solar+ Schools

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 Elementary School, Dare County
• Cape Hatteras Secondary School, Dare County
• CB Eller Elementary School, Wilkes County
• D.H. Conley High School, Pitt County
• First Flight Elementary School, Dare County
• Lakeforest Elementary School, Pitt County
• Manteo Middle School, Dare County
• Manteo High School, Dare County
• Mulberry Elementary School, Wilkes County
• New Garden Friends School, Guilford County
• North Wilkes High School, Wilkes County
• Victory Christian Academy, Halifax County*
• Western Rockingham Middle School, Rockingham County
• William T. Brown Elementary School, Cumberland County* 

*Indicates new county in the Solar+ Schools program

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