Roanoke schools use $2.55 million in outside funding for Virginia’s first K-12 solar microgrids

Battery storage at two high schools will strengthen emergency shelter operations while Roanoke City Public Schools continues a broader solar strategy aimed at lowering energy costs, addressing aging roofs, and reducing demands on its capital budget.
Sept. 8, 2026
4 min read
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Key Highlights

  • Roanoke is installing 1 MW solar and 4 MWh battery systems at Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools, serving as emergency shelters during outages.
  • Funding includes a $450,000 state grant and $2.1 million private investment, with costs offset by energy savings and grid services, avoiding local budget impact.
  • The project enhances resilience, allowing shelters to operate independently from the grid, and integrates roof repairs with solar installations to save costs.
  • The district's solar program has expanded to nearly 9.4 MW across 29 sites, reducing electricity costs by over $22 million over 35 years.
  • Secure Solar Futures provides workforce training and curriculum to prepare students for careers in renewable energy, integrating education with infrastructure upgrades.
Courtesy of Secure Solar Futures
Aerial view of Virginia middle school with massive solar panel array.

When it comes to resilience and sustainability measures, Roanoke City Public Schools is certainly making the grade, as it announced it is adding battery storage to solar installations at its two high schools, creating what the district says will be the first solar-powered microgrids at K-12 schools in Virginia.

The solar storage capabilities at Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools are possible due to a state grant RCPS received for the array, which is expected to be installed by the end of 2026, according to an announcement by the district. Both campuses serve as designated emergency shelters, and the batteries will enable the buildings to continue operating on stored solar energy during power outages before diesel generators are needed.

Each high school will have 1 megawatt of solar generating capacity and 4 megawatt-hours of battery storage, for a combined 8 megawatt-hours of storage, according to a local news report. The systems are designed so stored electricity can support shelter operations when grid power is unavailable, with generators available after battery reserves are depleted.

Dr. Verletta White, superintendent of Roanoke City Public Schools, said in a statement:

“This investment strengthens our ability to keep students and families safe, even during emergency situations. By adding battery storage to our existing solar infrastructure, we are increasing the resilience of our schools and ensuring Patrick Henry and William Fleming can continue serving as emergency shelters during power outages.”

State grant and private investment cover microgrid costs

The microgrid project is being financed with $2.55 million in outside funding from both public and private sources. Roanoke received a $450,000 award through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s Emergency Shelter Upgrade Assistance Fund, while solar developer Secure Solar Futures is providing a $2.1 million match—an arrangement that requires no local RCPS funding for construction. The district says the microgrids also are expected to operate without drawing from its budget, with costs covered through energy savings and revenue generated by providing energy-storage services to the regional PJM electric grid.

The funding mechanism is part of a state program created to help local governments improve facilities used for emergency sheltering. Virginia’s budget provides $2.5 million annually to the Emergency Shelter Upgrade Assistance Fund to help communities prepare for shelter operations.

Solar program also targets energy and roof costs

The battery systems build on a solar program Roanoke began several years ago. In 2023, the district entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement with Secure Solar Futures for an initial 1.7 megawatts of solar capacity at seven locations. The Roanoke City Council approved the agreement in January 2024, and under the arrangement, the developer financed, installed, owns, and maintains the systems, and the school district purchases the electricity they produce.
Roanoke has since expanded the program substantially. Canary Media reports that nearly 9.4 megawatts of solar capacity is installed or planned at 29 district sites, enough to provide about 44% of the school system’s electricity. The publication estimates that the systems will reduce electricity costs by more than $22 million over 35 years.

The installations also serve the dual purpose of addressing aging roofs— another large facilities expense facing the district. Many of the buildings selected for solar already needed substantial roof work, according to RCPS. The district paired roof restoration with the solar installations rather than paying for conventional roof replacements through upfront capital expenditures, according to public information made available by the district.

Why it matters

What makes Roanoke’s approach unique is that it connects several facilities challenges that school districts often address separately all at once: rising utility expenses, aging roofs, emergency preparedness, and limited capital dollars.

Instead of financing solar installations and roof work through conventional capital spending, RCPS has used a power purchase agreement, outside investment, and state grant funding to shift much of the upfront cost away from the school system. The district describes the program as a long-term facilities and energy strategy designed to reduce operating costs, address aging roofs, and improve building resilience—a lesson other school facilities planners should take note of.

Adding battery storage extends that strategy beyond energy savings. Because Patrick Henry and William Fleming serve as emergency shelters, the same infrastructure used to lower everyday energy costs can provide backup power when the grid fails, reducing reliance on diesel generators and increasing the buildings’ usefulness during emergencies

RCPS says neither the solar panels nor their installation and long-term maintenance are paid for through its capital or operating budgets. The developer covers design, materials, installation, financing, and maintenance, while the district purchases electricity at a fixed rate intended to remain below conventional utility costs.

Canary Media estimates that the roof work associated with the larger solar program could help Roanoke avoid another $24 million in capital costs, putting the combined projected impact from energy savings and avoided roof expenditures at roughly $46 million over 35 years.

Solar strategy began as a cost-control measure

The district’s initial solar agreement was structured partly as protection against future electricity-price increases. The first seven installations were projected to offset nearly 39% of those buildings’ combined electricity demand, while exposing students to solar technology and renewable-energy careers, according to a press release.

The district has since incorporated clean-energy training into its career and technical education efforts. Secure Solar Futures says it provides workforce-development programming intended to give high school students experience with solar installation and related careers, along with energy-focused curriculum and teacher training.

This piece was created with the help of generative AI tools and edited by our content team for clarity and accuracy.
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