A project of Wayne County Schools and the West Virginia solar installer and developer company, Solar Holler, has been touted as “the biggest-ever single demonstration of sun-powered renewable electricity in Appalachian public schools.” The project is the largest Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to date in West Virginia. A PPA allows a business or nonprofit organization to install and reap the benefits of solar without an upfront capital investment. The business or organization then purchases energy generated by the solar panels from the installer, typically at a lower rate than purchasing electricity from a utility. Approximately 10,000 solar panels will deliver an estimated 5.53 Megawatts of power per year to Wayne County schools. Investment in the project is a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, which included incentives for projects in coal communities. The first schools will begin receiving solar panels in 2024; the project will be completed by the end of 2025. The project will save approximately $150,000 in energy costs during its first year, and $6.5 million over 25 years.