Pisgah Energy Installs Solar for MANNA FoodBank’s Mills River Facility
Western North Carolina-based food bank partners with Pisgah Energy to install 2 solar electric systems that will reduce its carbon footprint while lowering long-term utility costs. The new solar arrays will generate more than 643,000 kWh of clean, renewable energy annually, offsetting the equivalent annual energy use of 64 homes.
MANNA FoodBank has partnered with Asheville-based Pisgah Energy to design, develop and install new rooftop solar arrays at MANNA’s office and warehouse facility in Mills River, an investment designed to reduce the organization’s environmental footprint while creating long-term operational savings that can help support its hunger-relief mission. Together, the two systems total 514 kWdc and include 864 SEG 595W panels and 4 SolarEdge inverters. The systems will provide on-site electrical generation and are expected to produce more than 643,000 kWh of emissions-free, renewable energy annually.
Each year in operation, the solar arrays are expected to offset approximately 403 metric tons of carbon dioxide. The environmental impact is equivalent to eliminating the emissions associated with more than 1 million miles driven by an average gasoline-powered vehicle, recycling instead of landfilling approximately 142 tons of waste, or offsetting the annual energy use of 64 homes.
For MANNA, the project is also an investment in the long-term sustainability of its operations. Reducing ongoing energy costs allows the organization to use its resources more efficiently and helps protect more funding for the core work of sourcing, storing, and distributing food throughout Western North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary.
That stewardship is increasingly important as families across the region continue to face significant economic pressure. Today, MANNA and its network of more than 300 community partners serve an average of approximately 220,000 visits each month across 16 counties and the Qualla Boundary. Rising costs for housing, food, utilities, transportation, and other basic necessities continue to strain household budgets, making sustainable approaches to MANNA’s own operations an important part of ensuring the food bank can meet both today’s needs and those of the future.
Every dollar we can use more efficiently is a dollar that can go further in serving our communities“At a time when neighbors across Western North Carolina are turning to MANNA and our partner network at historic rates for food support, we have a responsibility to think about the long-term sustainability of our work. Investments like this help us reduce ongoing costs while building a stronger, more resilient food bank that can continue meeting the needs of our region for years to come.
—Claire Neal, MANNA FoodBank CEO
MANNA also sincerely appreciates the additional resources and partnerships Pisgah Energy helped bring to the project, including support from the Footprint Project, a $55,000 solar panel racking donation from Enstall, and a $200,000 BuildUS grant supporting greater energy resiliency in rural Western North Carolina.
Coupled with the nonprofit direct pay incentive, this crucial funding is expected to help MANNA reach an estimated 4.5-year investment payback, freeing up critical dollars for food purchases and distribution.
It was an honor to install these systems for MANNA. Using solar energy to help power operations is just one more way this incredible organization is supporting the health and well-being of Western North Carolina families.
—Evan Becka, Pisgah Energy President & Senior Project Developer
About
Pisgah Energy provides comprehensive solar and energy storage design, development, and construction services for commercial, municipal, and institutional clients across the Southeast. Based in Asheville, N.C., its mission is to lead the transition of commercial, municipal, and institutional clients from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. The Pisgah Energy team has a combined 80+ years of experience in the renewable energy industry and a proven track record of developing innovative solar and energy storage projects that are uniquely tailored to meet the needs of each individual client.
MANNA FoodBank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has served Western North Carolina since 1983. As an accredited member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, MANNA’s mission is to involve, educate, and unite people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina. MANNA partners with over 300 community-based nonprofit food assistance agencies across 16 counties and the Qualla Boundary, creating a vital regional network of food security support.
Today, MANNA and its partner network serve an average of approximately 220,000 people each month across Western North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary.
MANNA FoodBank is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about issues that could impact our neighbors now and in the future.
For more information, visit MANNAFoodBank.org or call 828-299-FOOD.
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