I hope this email finds you well as you gear up for students to return to in-person learning this Fall. As schools look to recover from and rebuild post pandemic, there is an upcoming opportunity that we wanted to make sure is on your radar. 

Generation180 and the Sierra Club are leading an effort in Virginia to ensure that a significant portion of the American Rescue Plan Act funds are allocated to K-12 public schools, particularly those who are hoping to upgrade their HVAC systems, address energy efficiency, and increase resiliency. As a part of this effort, we want to ensure that the potential renovations and retrofits completed as a result of this new funding also take future solar readiness into account so that we do not accidentally inhibit future rooftop solar installations on schools across the Commonwealth. 

We know that Virginia's schools could significantly benefit from an influx in capital that can be spent on much needed renovations and upgrades to school infrastructure. Our goal is to help schools get access to this funding and are set up for success to go solar in the future, potentially by taking advantage of the now expanded PPA access in Virginia. We are currently recruiting signatories on a coalition letter to send to the Northam admin that requests this consideration be included in his budget proposal, which will be the topic of conversation during the upcoming Special Session of the Virginia General Assembly (starting August 2nd). 

As an educational leader in Virginia, we would love to hear your perspective on this initiative. Do you have any thoughts on our proposal, or perspectives that we should take into account when working on this issue? 

View letter and sign on here by Wednesday July 7th at 9am:
https://forms.gle/jUuvyMPUqcXZrpu37

Thanks in advance for your time!

Best,
Jamie