Solar pavilion to be constructed at Sycamore High as part of TVA's $3M pilot projects advancing valley connectivity, carbon-free future
A solar pavilion will be constructed at Sycamore High as part of a $3 million Tennessee Valley Authority pilot project working to advance valley connectivity and a carbon-free future in 2022 and 2023.
Chosen by local governments, power companies and community-based organizations, the project aims to help provide communities – identified through community-driven data – equitable access to technology prompting job creation and energy and environmental justice.
“We recognize that access to technology and other critical services is the foundation for success in the modern-day world. Our Connected Communities initiative will help close the equity gap in communities across our region, offering broad-ranging, innovative solutions that will continue to make life better for the people we serve,” Joe Hoagland, vice president, Innovation & Research said in a prepared statement.
“This announcement also marks another step to jointly prepare our communities, customers and systems as we progress toward a clean energy future.”
The solar pavilion at Sycamore High will work to support the development of a solar energy Career and Tech Education program and introduce solar science to students.
Construction on the solar pavilion – a first for the school district – is set to begin by August, school officials said.
Another eight pilot project locations are currently under review by the TVA Connected Communities initiative, including six communities in Tennessee and two in Mississippi, though more than 40 organizations applied for funding during the project’s initial call.
Broadband access, environmental risk monitoring, digital literacy training and next-generation career options are some of the challenges these communities and populations face that TVA’s Connected Communities plans to address through funding, contributing 70% of the project’s total costs.
Pilot teams are contributing the remaining 30% and projects will receive funding after successful completion of required reviews.
“We want our local communities to be positioned to take full advantage of TVA’s Energy System of the Future,” Hoagland said in an earlier statement.
“During the past year, the Connected Communities team and community partners have been working to understand Valley challenges, align best practices and build a roadmap to tomorrow. The discussions identified three priority focus areas that will help ensure everyone we serve has the opportunity to benefit from innovative energy and data technologies.”
To learn more about TVA’s Connected Communities initiative, including resources and tools for communities to implement their own Connected Communities initiatives, visit tva.com/connectedcommunities or email ConnectedCommunities@tva.gov.
Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com or (615) 517-1285.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Solar pavilion to be constructed at Sycamore High as part of TVA's $3M pilot projects advancing valley connectivity, carbon-free future
