CONTACT
Ann Creasy, Community Outreach Coordinator Sierra Club Virginia Chapter,
757-513-2844, ann.creasy@sierraclub.org
Solar Freedom Town Hall highlights solar potential in Hampton Roads
Sen. Frank Wagner, solar advocates and installers spoke with nearly 60 community members
VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia – Nearly 60 Hampton Roads residents gathered to learn and discuss the potential for growth of solar energy in Virginia last night at a Solar Freedom Town Hall hosted by the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter. The town hall created a space to consider how Virginia could break down barriers to the growth of customer-sited solar in this state.
Sen. Frank Wagner, as well as solar advocates and experts gave information on the barriers to customer-sited solar like rooftop solar, on steps towards installation and on how more solar can be brought to Hampton Roads and the whole of Virginia. Speaker Ruth Amundsen, representing Solar United Neighbors of Virginia, shared the details of her role in installing over 500 solar panels on the roof of Norfolk Academy in partnership with other parents. She discussed financing pathways for nonprofits, schools, churches and municipal buildings to get solar systems installed.
“I don’t get why we aren’t doing more of this,” Amundsen said in reference to financing options and municipal programs like Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy that could assist community fixtures and businesses with the installation of clean energy.
Arthur Fichter of Solar Services Inc. and Chad Healy of Convert Solar provided information on costs for residential rooftop and steps of installation.
“One of the best steps to see more solar is to build grassroots and public officials’ understanding of the critical role distributed solar plays in transforming our energy supply and responding to the climate crisis,” I’esha Wynn, Conservation Program Manager with Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, said.
After the presentations, the audience became a part of the conversation by asking questions of the featured speakers, which also included the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter’s Ann Creasy, Community Outreach Coordinator and Bob Shippee, Legislative and Political Chair.
During the question and answer portion of the program, Sen. Wagner engaged with his constituents and other solar experts addressed the potential for solar in Virginia. Due to quantity, not all questions could be addressed, and participants lingered in the hallways and outside the auditorium chatting more about solar until the library closed for the evening.
For more information, contact Ann Creasy at ann.creasy@sierraclub.org or 757-513-2844.
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About the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter: The Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club is over 20,000 members strong. We are your friends and neighbors working to build healthy, livable communities, and to conserve and protect our climate and environment. The Virginia Chapter is part of the national Sierra Club, the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. For more information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia