Press Release: Mon Valley Initiative and PA Solar Center announce RFP for qualified solar developers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2026
Homestead, PA – The Pennsylvania Solar Center has announced a Request for Proposals from certified solar developers on behalf of the nonprofit Mon Valley Initiative (MVI) based in Homestead, PA. MVI will consider proposals from qualified solar companies between now and April 20, 2026, to help MVI’s Fifth Street Place senior affordable housing building in Charleroi, PA go solar. MVI will host an on-site walkthrough upon request for solar developers interested in responding to the RFP.
Developers responding to this RFP should demonstrate experience designing, planning, permitting, constructing, maintaining, and financing solar electric systems; have relationships with, or knowledge of, local utilities and interconnection procedures; and meet other requirements outlined in the RFP. Interested developers will need to undergo a short screening process to receive the RFP and can express interest by emailing Nick Rosen, Senior Program Coordinator, at nick@pasolarcenter.org.
“Mon Valley Initiative has been fortunate enough to secure three generous grants to make this project possible, from the Scott Foundation Inc, West Penn Energy Fund, and the Washington Financial Charitable Foundation,” said Mark Child, Director of Real Estate Development at Mon Valley Initiative. “Between these organizations’ vital support and the guidance of the PA Solar Center, going solar was a compelling choice. Like so many other organizations, we have been hit hard by rising energy costs, so we look forward to finding a solar developer that can help us save money on our electricity bill every month, and redirect those savings to funding our valuable community programs.”
“The PA Solar Center has been delighted to help Mon Valley Initiative begin their solar journey, and now we’re ready to connect them with a qualified solar developer,” said Minette Beabes, Program Manager at the PA Solar Center. “With great vision and foundation support, we are certain that MVI will save significant money in the years to come that will be far better spent achieving their mission of helping people in their communities, rather than on energy costs.”
Solar energy is the fastest growing energy in the country and is saving schools, businesses, nonprofits, communities, and residents thousands to millions of dollars in utility bills. Solar helps organizations hedge against volatile electricity pricing by providing significant savings and stable pricing.
ABOUT THE PENNSYLVANIA SOLAR CENTER
The PA Solar Center is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with the mission to expand the benefits of solar to all Pennsylvanians through full-spectrum solar consulting, which includes preliminary feasibility assessment, financial navigation, procurement support, and communication strategy. The Center advises non-profit organizations, businesses, schools, faith communities, farms, and communities to help them go solar through their keystone GET Solar program, also providing savvy media communications, resources, and programming to educate all solar stakeholders. In addition, the PA Solar Center advocates for robust solar policy and provides an online directory of qualified solar developers, a monthly solar webinar series, and a listing of solar events happening across the state. Learn more at www.pasolarcenter.org.
ABOUT MON VALLEY INITIATIVE
Mon Valley Initiative, founded in 1988, is a 501c3 nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of people in the Mon Valley area by helping to rebuild community infrastructure, provide safe and affordable housing, and connect employers to people seeking new jobs and careers. MVI does this by delivering quality services to the people of the Mon Valley, including housing counseling, workforce development and financial coaching, real estate development, and community development.
ABOUT WEST PENN ENERGY FUND
The West Penn Energy Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit seeking transformational projects that will support the deployment of sustainable energy technologies in a manner that will improve the economic and environmental health of communities within the West Penn Power service region. Our funding is focused in three broad categories:
Deployment of sustainable and clean energy technologies;
Deployment of energy efficiency and conservation technologies; and
Facilitating economic development, environmental betterment, and public education as they relate to sustainable energy deployment in the WPP service region.
Contact: Gretchen Dlugolecki, Rapport Communications
Mobile: 267-541-7727