Solar-powered food bank saves significantly, potential Republican cuts pose threat to similar initiatives.
In a significant move towards sustainability, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina has activated a 1-megawatt solar array on the roof of its new headquarters in Winston-Salem. This project, one of the largest rooftop solar projects in North Carolina, was commissioned in April 2023 and completed in collaboration with the Piedmont Environmental Alliance.
The idea for the solar array was initially proposed in 2019, but was shelved due to cost concerns. However, Will Eley, the new green jobs program manager at the Piedmont Environmental Alliance, revived the discussion when he met Beth Bealle, Second Harvest's director of philanthropy, stewardship, and engagement, at the Earth Day Fair in April 2023.
Bealle and her colleagues aimed to extend the concept of sustainability to other aspects of the organization's work, including the facility. Eley, in his role at the Piedmont Environmental Alliance, was instrumental in helping Second Harvest comply with the clean energy incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act.
The solar array, installed in a former R.J. Reynolds Tobacco industrial park, will help Second Harvest reduce its carbon footprint and save on energy costs. The 140,000-square-foot building that houses Second Harvest's headquarters is now powered, in part, by solar energy.
The primary focus of Second Harvest remains the rescue of food that would have ended up in landfills to feed those in need. However, the organization's ongoing efforts to promote sustainability in food banking are evident in this project. The solar array is a testament to Second Harvest's commitment to a greener future.
As the solar array was activated on Earth Day 2025, it serves as a reminder of the strides that can be made when organizations collaborate for a common goal. The project is a shining example of how businesses can contribute to environmental conservation while continuing to serve their primary missions.
