- PROJECT DETAILS
- FUNDING: $7,000 from the Appalachian Solar Finance Fund
- PLACEMENT: Roof-mounted 35.52 kW solar array
- ENERGY SAVINGS: Expected to generate 28,736 kWh in the first year
At the West Virginia Botanic Garden in Morgantown, something truly exciting is taking root—solar energy! Like the beautiful plants that grace its landscape, the Garden is embracing the power of the sun in a new and innovative way. With support from the Appalachian Solar Finance Fund (SFF) and the solar installation experts at Solar Holler, the Botanic Garden has installed a 35.52-kW solar array, creating a greener future for the Garden and its surrounding community.
By planting these solar “seeds,” the Garden is reducing its energy costs and blossoming into a role model for renewable energy in West Virginia. The nonprofit’s new solar array will generate enough clean energy to fully power its operations, leaving more resources available for what it does best—cultivating beautiful landscapes and bringing the community together.
Sunshine Funding
The Appalachian Solar Finance Fund has been a ray of sunshine for the Garden, contributing a $7,000 grant award to help the project clear financial hurdles. With this support, the Garden can shift its focus from hefty utility bills to sowing the seeds of community growth and education.
Growing Community Connections
This solar project is more than just a budget booster; it’s a vibrant symbol of environmental responsibility. The Garden’s Board of Directors and staff see it as a crucial part of their mission to nurture both plants and people. By showing how renewable energy can bloom alongside their gardens, The Garden is inspiring visitors, donors, and the wider community to consider planting their own solar arrays.
The solar panels will help the Garden reduce its carbon footprint and serve as a living example of harnessing the sun’s power for good. Like flowers attracting pollinators, this project will draw the attention of individuals and organizations interested in cultivating a greener, brighter future.
A Greener Garden for Tomorrow
The solar project at the West Virginia Botanic Garden is a testament to how sustainability and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand, like sunflowers reaching for the sky. By reducing energy costs and promoting renewable energy, The Garden is helping to plant the seeds for a future where going green is as natural as planting flowers in the spring.
“We see solar as more than just a cost-cutting measure,” says David Barnett, President of the West Virginia Botanic Garden. “It’s a way to show our community that renewable energy is not only possible but vital in the effort to combat climate change. It’s our way of helping West Virginia blossom into a more sustainable state.”
The West Virginia Botanic Garden proves that great things can grow when we work with nature—whether it’s a flower or a solar panel!The Appalachian Solar Finance Fund is a regional financial and technical assistance program dedicated to spurring new solar development in coal-impacted communities throughout Central Appalachia. To bring solar power to your community, learn how the fund works and apply online for funding support and technical assistance.
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