The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia is a group of nonprofit and community action agencies, colleges, state agencies, planning district commissions and other interested citizens and businesses seeking to develop a renewable energy industry cluster in the seven coalfield counties of Southwest Virginia.

The Workgroup is co-convened by People Inc. and Appalachian Voices, with facilitation assistance from Dialogue + Design Associates, policy analysis from Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), and regional solar planning with The Nature Conservancy, Appalachian Sustainable Development, UVA Wise Office of Community and Economic Development, Virginia Department of Energy, Secure Solar Futures, and Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority. Representatives of each entity participate on a Steering Committee, which governs the Solar Workgroup.

Utilty-Scale Solar Playbook 2020

The Solar Workgroup, in partnership with SolSmart and the Solar Foundation, created an introductory guide for local governments to facilitate large-scale solar projects in Southwest Virginia.

2021-2023 Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia Action Plan

This Action Plan summary serves to outline the goals, action strategies, and implementation plan for realizing these priorities within the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia.

Solar Workgroup Meeting Summaries

General meetings began in 2016, are held several times a year, and open to the public.

Solar Roadmap for Southwest Virginia 2017

The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia has released a report detailing a multi-faceted strategy for establishing a vibrant solar energy hub in the coalfields of far Southwest Virginia.