NORFOLK, Va. – As prices increase across the board, the cost of energy is at the top of mind.
Folks are looking at their monthly bills wondering if there is a better way to save. Many families are turning to solar energy and adding solar panels to their homes.
For those unable to afford the upfront cost of solar panels, Norfolk Solar is offering a new option. They have made it their mission to install solar at no cost to local businesses and non-profits in Qualified Opportunity Zones.
According to the IRS, Federally Qualified Opportunity Zones are economically distressed communities where new investments can be eligible for preferential tax treatments.
Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church on Johnson Avenue in Norfolk falls within this zone. Now when people walk by, they don’t just see century’s-old brick, they see a head-turning display of solar ground mounts.
“They will come by and stand on the fence. Watching [and asking] ‘pastor what’s going on?’ They were excited to see it,” said Pastor Brandon Praileau. “Let’s face it, for many people in this community, they don’t know what solar is, they’ve never seen any solar panels have no idea how solar even works. It begins to introduce them to concepts and things that can be beneficial to them.”
The church is located in Huntersville which is within the federally designated qualified opportunity zone and because of that it’s the perfect fit for the work that Norfolk Solar does.
“We are a fund that puts solar on buildings and disadvantaged…
