The Town of Pennington Gap has been awarded $150,000 in Phase Two of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solutions for Lasting, Viable Energy Infrastructure Technologies (SOLVE IT) Prize. This funding follows the town’s award of $80,000 in Phase One which supported community engagement and planning for renewable energy opportunities within communities between May and November of 2024. The project is in partnership with Appalachian Voices and the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia who focus on bringing the economic benefits of solar energy to the coalfield region of Southwest Virginia. The SOLVE IT program is continuing to help with the implementation of innovative clean energy solutions tailored to a community’s individual needs.
As a Phase Two awardee, Pennington Gap is eligible to apply for one of the three SOLVE IT Phase Three Prizes, consisting of $500k. Applications are due Jun. 12, 2025. Only recipients of Phase Two funding are eligible to compete for Phase Three. If this application is successful, Pennington Gap will have received a total of $730,000 in funding for the implementation of solar energy projects, electric vehicle charging stations, and community benefit agreements for projects.
Want to Support the SOLVE IT Project?
Learn More in the Links Below!
- https://www.townofpenningtonva.gov/community/page/pennington-gap-solve-it-project-needs-your-help
- https://penningtongapsolveit.weebly.com/
- https://americanmadechallenges.org/challenges/solve-it/results
- https://www.energy.gov/technologytransitions/articles/doe-solve-it-prize-awards-15-million-communities-driving-clean
- https://penningtongapsolveit.weebly.com/