Intuit – the global financial technology platform behind Intuit TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp – recently announced the inaugural winners of the Coalfield Solar Fund initiative. In partnership with Secure Solar Futures and the NEED project, the initiative is designed to advance renewable energy and create new career pathways for Coalfield communities in Virginia and West Virginia.
The first cohort of grant winners are Calhoun County Schools, Lee County Schools, Mercer County Schools, and Mountain Empire Community College. This program has granted $375,000 across Virginia and West Virginia to incentivize solar energy projects across their school districts. And the project offers new career pathways and education opportunities while reducing carbon emissions, aligning with Intuit’s Climate Positive program goal of reducing 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions by 2030 outside Intuit’s operational footprint.
The Coalfield Solar Fund was launched in March 2023 to support underserved school districts and community colleges in Virginia and West Virginia and surrounding regions facing economic challenges. The winning districts will receive incentive grants for financing sustainability projects, infrastructure updates, and other initiatives to benefit students and solar installations at no upfront cost via a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Secure Solar Futures. The program is committed to advancing local career pathways in renewable energy by funding paid work-based learning programs and continuing to deploy The NEED Project’s Throwing Solar Shade STEM program for high school students.
The Coalfield Solar Fund is leading these school districts one step closer to a more sustainable future by offering renewable energy alternatives that reduce emissions and simultaneously create paid student learning opportunities for residents in Coalfield communities. And with another round of applications opening this month, the Coalfield Solar Fund will continue to develop new career pathways for students and expand its impact in the Coalfield region for years. Public school districts and community colleges in select Virginia and West Virginia counties can apply.
KEY QUOTES:
“As we wrap up a successful inaugural year of the Coalfield Solar Fund, I am thrilled to announce that applications for the second year are now open. We are excited to continue supporting eligible educational institutions in designated Coalfield counties in Virginia and West Virginia. Intuit’s mission is to power prosperity for customers and communities. By helping teach skills needed in today’s jobs and creating renewable energy sources for future generations, we hope to have a positive impact throughout the region.”
- Charlie Reed, Global Sustainability Lead at Intuit
“It has been wonderful to see the impact and opportunities created by our initiative and one-of-a-kind Coalfield Solar Fund. By investing in solar projects, organizations like Intuit and Secure Solar Futures not only create job opportunities for the community but also provide a pathway for workforce development for the next generation. Through our partnerships with community colleges, students can earn college credits and gain real-world experience in electrical engineering, solar installation, and related fields, creating a more sustainable future for both the community and environment.”
- Anthony Smith, President at Secure Solar Futures
