SHINE Continues to Prepare the Next Generation

By |2025-06-20T16:39:17-04:00December 20th, 2019|Company Update, Construction, Industry, Virginia Solar, Workforce Development|

SHINE Continues to be Great Since 2018, The Solar Hands-on Instructional Network of Excellence (SHINE) has worked with Southside Virginia Community College and solar developers like SolUnesco to educate, train, and secure jobs for a new generation of solar workers. As Virginia commits legislatively to meeting ambitious renewable energy goals, and corporations like Microsoft are making major solar purchases in the state, SHINE remains committed to growing solar within the state and advocating for local hiring. Education and Training Through

SHINE: an Immersive Solar Training Program

By |2025-06-20T16:21:46-04:00November 18th, 2019|Company Update, Industry, Virginia Solar, Workforce Development|

SHINE: Partnerships that Bridge Gaps The Solar Hands-On Instructional Network of Excellence (SHINE), is a public-private partnership dedicated to building innovative solar career pathways in Virginia. SHINE’s mission is to develop a qualified, diverse, equitable, and inclusive solar workforce, equip Virginians with the tools and knowledge to enter the solar sector, help solar developers and construction companies source qualified and trained talent, and bridge the gap between solar jobs supply and solar jobs demand. SolUnesco's Role The story of how

Local Governments: What You Need to Know about Solar

By |2025-06-20T15:50:59-04:00July 9th, 2019|Company Update, Industry, Policy, Virginia Solar|

The Opportunity At the 2019 SolSmart Virginia Local Government Solar Procurement Meeting on June 17, Francis Hodsoll joined five other presenters for a workshop focused on learning, sharing, and discussing solar procurement opportunities for local governments. Topics included green tariffs, non-utility procurement options, the market dynamics and the drivers of solar generation’s extraordinary growth, and examples of successful local government procurement.   In his presentation, Hodsoll spoke to local governments eager to learn about the Virginia solar energy market, opportunities to explore sustainable practices like procuring clean energy, and sustainable energy procurement options.  The following

Our State Legislature’s Role in a Clean Energy Future

By |2025-06-20T13:02:12-04:00May 29th, 2019|Company Update, Industry, Land Use, Policy, Virginia Solar|

Tom Tom Summit and Festival This April, SolUnesco CEO, Francis Hodsoll, moderated and presented on a panel at the Tom Tom Summit and Festival in Charlottesville. This annual event brings together a diverse group of thought leaders to discuss a revitalized approach to civic life and community, and this year devoted an entire day to renewable energy. Hodsoll and three co-panelists, Chip Dicks, Will Reisinger, and Rachel Smucker, explored how Virginia legislators impact the adoption of clean energy technologies and

The Unified Future of Clean Energy

By |2025-06-20T13:01:12-04:00March 28th, 2019|Company Update, Industry, Land Use, Policy, Virginia Solar|

Where We Can All Agree Decarbonizing energy through solar and wind technologies, as well as harnessing geothermal, hydropower, and biomass power, moves us toward meeting American’s growing desire for zero emission, zero carbon energy. The question of how and whether these discreet clean energy industries can join forces or align interests has stirred efforts and prompted discussion among industry experts and stakeholders, including at the recent Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) Conference this past October. In this article, we explore the possibilities of organized and unified efforts among clean energy providers, with some key insights from SolUnesco CEO Francis Hodsoll.  Recognizing first that this has been an ongoing conversation among

A Trifecta of SolUnesco Announcements

By |2025-06-20T12:23:59-04:00October 10th, 2018|Company Update, Industry, Virginia Solar|

They say good things come in threes. The SolUnesco team has worked hard all summer and has achieved a hattrick of exciting news to report. SolUnesco Partners with Apex Clean Energy On Sept 4, 2018, SolUnesco inked an agreement with Apex Clean Energy that resulted in the sale of 390 MW of SolUnesco’s pipeline. This agreement affects four projects: Carvers Creek, Moody Creek, Red Brick, and Rivanna, each of which ranges from 11 to 150 MWac. SolUnesco will continue to

Challenges and Opportunities in Virginia’s Solar Energy

By |2025-06-18T16:24:36-04:00October 2nd, 2018|Company Update, Industry, Land Use, Virginia Solar|

This past week, SolUnesco’s CEO, participated in a session entitled “The Rubin Group: Lessons from Virginia at Solar Power International. During the session, Hodsoll discussed how Virginia has rapidly become a clean energy state. In addition, Hodsoll discussed the challenges and opportunities that still exist for solar energy development in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia’s Painfully Slow Start Francis outlined three key interrelated challenges that the industry is facing: Inertia: Virginia is inhibited by an outdated regulatory system that was

Join SolUnesco in Supporting the Boys and Girls of Greensville County

By |2025-06-18T16:17:17-04:00September 27th, 2018|Charitable Giving, Company Update, Industry, Virginia Solar|

Charitable Giving Program - Greensville County Partner As we describe on our Charitable Giving page, SolUnesco is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate. Our Meherrin Solar project is located in Greensville County, on the outskirts of Emporia, Virginia. We have chosen to support the Boys and Girls Club of Emporia, which is currently raising money to re-establish its presence in the County. Changes in Emporia and Greensville, Virginia When small family-owned businesses were prevalent in the Emporia/Greensville

Education and Local Business Leaders Partner Up for Learning at Seneca Ridge Middle School

By |2025-06-18T16:08:19-04:00August 24th, 2018|Charitable Giving, Company Update|

Charitable Giving Program with Seneca Ridge Middle School As part of SolUnesco’s Charitable Giving Program, we announced our first initiative at Seneca Ridge Middle School last May. To continue with that effort, SolUnesco helped coordinate a Professional Development day, held on August 16, with participants from the sponsoring partners and Seneca Ridge staff to further the discussions about the Partners Program. The Partners Program is designed to help middle school students embrace leadership and education as lifelong endeavors. Partners Involved:

Helping Middle School Students Explore Solar Technology at Locust Grove Middle School

By |2025-06-18T16:00:53-04:00June 7th, 2018|Charitable Giving, Company Update, News, Virginia Solar|

Giving Back At SolUnesco, “community” is one of our core values, and we make it a goal to give back to the communities in which we operate. As such, we were thrilled to recently support the learning of solar concepts at Locust Grove Middle School. The school is located just down the street from the Madison Solar Farm, a proposed 400-acre, 60-MW solar farm, on which SolUnesco worked to get zoning approval from the County last year. On May 29,

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