Cople Elementary Solar is a 5 acre 2,100 solar panel array located on existing Elementary School property in Westmoreland County, Virginia. The solar array produces 1.2 megawatts a year, offsetting the facilities carbon footprint by 865 tons of CO2. This project is part of a Power Purchase Agreement with SunTribe Solar which resulted in no investment from the County and estimated to save $3.6 million over the solar array’s lifespan. The project is located near an existing playground on unutilized school property. The pollinator-friendly approach is a recent effort to expand the ecological benefits of solar development, where wild flowers and other host plants can be planted underneath or around the panels, offering a multitude of conservational and economic benefits. Bowman provided comprehensive engineering services, including civil engineering, stormwater design and permitting, tree survey and arborist services, land survey and structural engineering.
