High winds couldn’t stop the sun from shining over Carl Smith Stadium at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise on May 21. Since early in the morning, Appalachian Voices staff and a crew of volunteers and colleagues from the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virignia, including UVA Wise, Virginia Energy and Appalachia Sustainable Development, had been preparing the field for the inaugural Southwest Virginia Solar Summit.

The summit brought together over 200 attendees, including local officials, educators, students and solar professionals, to explore the growing role of solar energy in the region’s economic and environmental future.

The summit commenced with opening remarks followed by a solar development discussion panel, moderated by Energy Right Director of Strategy and Engagement Ben Wilson. The panel delved into the current landscape of solar energy in Southwest Virginia, where participants discussed opportunities, challenges and the path forward for the region’s growing solar industry.

A second round of discussions later in the evening provided attendees with the opportunity to engage with various presenters and organizations, including the Virginia Department of Energy, solar sheep grazing company Gray’s LAMBscaping, Wise County Schools and the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia, a group of nonprofit, academic and community agencies dedicated to helping develop renewable energy in the region. In addition to official panel discussions and presentations, 20 organizations participated by tabling at the summit, giving attendees the opportunity to engage in direct conversations with industry experts.  

Local high school students were very excited to participate in a student solar robot competition that showcased the ingenuity of local students. Four teams of three to five students competed by designing and building solar-powered robots, emphasizing the importance of STEM education and hands-on learning. A first place cash prize of $500 was awarded to the Lake Fleming Girls Team from Gate City High School who placed first, with second, third and fourth place prizes of $300, $200 and $150 respectively being awarded to the runners up. 

The summit was not only an educational event but also a celebration, with attendees receiving free food and drinks from the Pakalachian food truck. Live music lit up the stage between presentations, with performances by local country and folk singer Julia Still and indie rock band Alpine Motel of Abingdon. The band closed out the summit by showcasing songs from their newly released album, providing a vibrant musical backdrop, with live sound set-up provided courtesy of local musician Garland Collins.

Those in attendance agreed the event was a success.  “It’s been a great opportunity to connect with folks and educate the public on what’s going on in solar from residential to commercial,” said Matt McFadden of Secure Solar Futures. 

Appalachian Voices’ national service volunteer Andie Waugh was largely responsible for the coordination of the event. Waugh reflected on the event, saying, “Planning the Summit has been the highlight of my service. It was inspiring to see so many different people and organizations working together to further the Solar Workgroup’s mission of developing a locally rooted solar industry. Many folks were introduced to the work for the first time, creating opportunities for education and connection” 

Despite the challenges to clean energy initiatives in today’s chaotic federal environment, and the challenges of the windy day that at one point nearly blew the sound tent down, excitement for solar energy as an alternative economic driver in Southwest Virginia remains high, and the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia is considering making the summit an annual event.

For years, Southwest Virginians have been required to travel across the state to participate in substantial clean energy events. We hope that the Southwest Virginia Solar Summit can be an affordable and more accessible event for the region in the years to come. This will not only keep local communities engaged and aware of the changing federal and industrial landscape, but it will also help dispel the vast amounts of information our communities are peppered with.

To learn more about the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia and future events, visit https://swvasolar.org/.