Matthew McFadden, business development director for Secure Solar Futures, told Roanoke City Council on Nov. 17 that his company can finance a 10‑megawatt solar program for Roanoke City Public Schools with no upfront capital from the district. "We build the system, we finance it, we own it, we operate it, and we maintain it," McFadden said, describing the company's standard 25‑year power‑purchase agreement (PPA). He said the company would monetize federal tax credits and depreciation to pass savings back to the district and to pay for roof restoration where needed.

Jeff Scharver, senior director of physical plants for Roanoke City Public Schools, outlined the district’s existing work with Secure Solar Futures: Phase 1 (complete) covers six sites and about 1.6 MW; Phase 2 (under construction) is roughly 5.6 MW across 11 sites; Phase 3 would add about 2.8 MW. Scharver described measurable results at school facilities, saying one administration building now offsets 61% of its electricity use and that the combined three phases total approximately 10 MW and projected net energy savings in the tens of millions of dollars.

Why it matters: Council members framed the proposal as a budget and infrastructure opportunity during a time of fiscal pressure. Vice Mayor McGuire and others emphasized both the cost savings and workforce and curriculum benefits — internships and career training related to installation and operations — that would accompany the projects.

Key technical and procurement points from the presentation and Q&A:
- Ownership and risk: Secure Solar Futures said it would own the energy system and assume performance and financing risk; the customer pays for electricity on a per‑kilowatt‑hour basis under a locked PPA rate (presenters said a typical 2–2.5% escalator). "We put up all the money, we finance it, and we take all the performance risk," McFadden said.
- Roof restoration: The company said it uses roof restoration where necessary and that restoration costs can be covered by PPA economics. Presenters described IR flyovers and roofing vendor inspections to identify moisture or structural issues and said remediation is included in restoration estimates when needed.
- Tax credits and timing: Presenters repeatedly cited the federal tax‑credit window as a schedule driver. "The window for the tax credits got shortened quite a bit. They have to be used or achieved by 12/31/2027," a presenter said, and recommended roughly an 18‑month lead time to queue projects for the tax‑credit deadline.
- Batteries and resilience: The school system discussed battery storage for high‑school sites that serve as emergency shelters; district staff described batteries sized to support shelter operations and to enable microgrid functionality during outages.
- Residential context and consumer protection: In council Q&A, presenters warned that residential door‑to‑door solar sales have produced scams and advised caution for homeowners; they also said PPAs are not permitted for residential customers in Virginia under current law.

What remains unresolved: Council members asked whether perceived savings account for avoided roof‑replacement costs, how PPA pricing compares to rising utility rates, and whether the district or city could capture tax credits directly (presenters said they monetize those credits and pass the value through). Council asked staff to evaluate procurement pathways, fiscal impacts and timing if the city or schools pursue broader municipal projects.

Next steps: Council discussion centered on scheduling and procurement; presenters recommended moving projects into a pipeline well ahead of the federal tax‑credit deadline. City and school staff signaled willingness to continue technical and financial due diligence before any formal procurement.