Dan Doyle and Linda Stein from Fayette County WV are here. We live across the road from New Roots Farm. Linda is board member of WV Agrarian Commons.

Hey, Atlas, The Central Applachian Network Manager, here calling in from Tennessee. I’m so excited for this launch. Congrats to the team that has diligently worked to get this off the ground.

Adam Hodges, Interim Assistant Program Director for CED at WV State University Extension Service. Also current President of WV Agrarian Commons that is working with New Roots Farm.

Danny Chiotos here, Sales and Market Development Director with Mountain View Solar (danny@mtvsolar / 304-886-3389)

Carrie Ray & Josh Bills, Mountain Association in Kentucky. We're excited to learn more about this game changing opportunity for solar in Appalachia!

Kathlyn Terry, Appalachian Sustainable Development

Robby Moore, Executive Director of Beckley Art Center and Artist, happy to be here and learn about this initiative.

Hello! Mary Hott, business coach and innovation/technology program manager with the WV Small Business Development Center. Excited about this launch and helping people get funded!

Eriks Brolis, Director of Nature & Economy @ The Nature Conservancy, based up in the Allegheny Highlands in Pendleton County, West Virginia

Matthew McFadden, Business Development Associate and Project Coordinator for Secure Futures Solar, Solar Developer for Commercial, Schools, and Government in the SWVA region and Southern West Virginia. (matt@securefutures.solar / 276-219-3737)

Christy Bailey, Executive Director of National Coal Heritage Area Authority located in Oak Hill, WV.

Robin Blakeman, Energy Efficient WV Director & WV Interfaith Power and Light Steering Committee member. Located in Huntington, WV.

Delighted to see so many of my fellow Mountaineers here today!

Brad Hash here, Commercial Solar Evaluator for Solar Holler. Offices in Shepherdstown and Huntington WV, and covering Central Appalachia.

Henry Golatt, Chief of Strategy and Partnerships, HBCU Clean Energy Initiative. https://hbcucleanenergy.org/. We are headquartered in Miami, Florida with projects in North Carolina and projects planned for Baltimore, New Orleans, and other markets.

Patrick Ferrell, Solar Energy Solutions, a solar installation company based in KY

Tony Smith, President, Secure Futures, here with Matt and other team members.

Dan Taylor here, Appalachian Regional Field Organizer for BlueGreen Alliance, a labor/environmental coalition.

Hello! Jason Sorter here - Executive Director, Chesapeake Solar & Storage Association - jsorter@chessa.org/303-638-5207

Brooklynn Abaroa, Project Development @ Sunwealth. We'nterested in financing more small C&I solar projects in the region.

*We're interested! Feel free to reach out brooklynn@sunwealth.com

Brad- RE projects in South Carolina: Follow this link to find SFF-eligible counties. South Carolina counties are not in the eligible territory. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NvyNmnnZlRsW51Nq0vsG3avp2s-fKyxQDNMNUJKT7Vo/edit?usp=sharing

Rees Shearer, citizen solar advocate in Washington County, Virginia.

Sam Call, Utility Director Town of Wilkesboro NC

Hello! Leah Cunningham here, Sales Director with WV-based Solar Holler. #minethesun

Hi! Garrett Davidson, Development Manager, Sun Tribe, working with the public sector to support solar in SWVA.

What criteria are used to determine the “level of impact” a project would have?

Are projects that have or are pursuing other federal funds (like REAP) eligible for SFF funding?

Brad, we’ll be looking at quantitative and qualitative criteria such as ROI for the project offtaker and its planned redeployment of those cost savings to grow its impact and scope of work; direct job creation and retention through the project developer and offtaker; and the role of any specific project in growing the local solar industry, creating new job opportunities, and raising the profile of solar in the local area and region.

Carrie, yes indeed! Stacking REAP funding with SFF support is a great idea that we encourage :)

Mike Studholme with mtvSolar, located in WV. Would batteries for demand management and backup power qualify when coupled with Solar Panels?

Hi Mike. Yes we will consider solar + storage installations, especially if community resilience is an objective of the project.

Are you considering one or more rounds of funding with specific timelines, or a fund as you go approach on a first come first serve basis?

Public schools operations personnel are overwhelmed by ESSER III federal funds. Might funding assist public schools in solar project management for overwhelmed personnel?

What information will the applicant need to have to complete the application?

Are there any limits to using funds from SFF as match to leverage other funding/grant opportunities?

About what % of a project cost can be covered by SFF?

Based on your state-by-state and county-by-county map, it doesn't seem that you are currently our markets (i.e. Greensboro, NC). Are there similar organizations that might be in our immediate footprint?

are faith-based organizations eligible? (sorry if you answered that already)

Carrie yes :)

Henry - your region is outside the central Appalachia/coal-impacted footprint, but my organization does lend in North Carolina, along with other CDFIs lenders. And you can access the Duke rebate in your region.

How might the signing of the Build Back Better bill offering, among other things, 30% refunds for nonprofit solar projects equal to the proposed 30% ITC affect SFF, if at all?

Thanks Danny!

Exciting opportunity!

This is so exciting and impressive. Congrats and thank you to the whole project team!

Looking at your spreadsheet... it looks like all 55 WV counties qualify??

Yes all counties in WV are eligible!

Yes, all WV counties

Thanks Bettina!

Could TA funds be available to develop projects, manage RFP process, etc?

ARC Power INitiative also has smaller planning grants available, for TA.

You have pinpointed the need and a solution opportunity for how public and non-profit entities can get over the hump in solar pre-development. Thank you!

On those 55 WV counties - I am wondering if there's any weighting between the counties based on historic coal activity within the county where say McDowell County would have more "points" (for lack of a better word) than Jefferson County or if all 55 WV counties qualify in the same way at the same level?

Thanks, Rees! Happy to connect to discuss how this connects to your efforts

Southwest WV including McDowell has not accessed Power opportunity according to Senator Stollings (D-Logan). Communities need to try.

Thanks everyone!

great session, thank you!

Thanks all!

Really excited about this. thanks so much!

Thanks!

Thank you!

Thank you all for the work!

many thanks

Thank You!!

Thank you. this is great