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:

*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:

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School Site Walks with Solar InstallerQ4 2022-Q1 2023
Expected Start/End Dates for Solar PV ConstructionQ1/Q3 2023
Virtual Teacher Curriculum TrainingMarch/April 2023
*The above dates are tentative and subject to change

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Did you know?
Any K-12 school in NC
may apply for a
solar PV grant
up to
$27,000

The Details

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

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.

Make a Donation to A Specific School

2022 Fundraising Site

Our Impact Since 2015

68
Solar Schools
46
Unique Counties
720,245
Kilowatt Hours Produced
as of May 2022
56,626
Students
received STEM education
237
Teachers
received solar energy training
$68,423
Estimated energy savings

Apply to be a Solar+ School!

Application Information

Make a Donation

Donate

Become a Sponsor

Sponsor

Do Your
Part

Volunteer