Media Contacts:
Jenny Moore, Director, Communications and Marketing,
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC,
336.413.4254
Will Eley, Green Jobs Program Manager,
Piedmont Environmental Alliance
334.462.0663 / will@peanc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Winston-Salem, NC - April 22, 2025 - Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, in partnership with Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA), is proud to announce the launch of Solar Harvest—a 1-megawatt rooftop solar array now operational atop the Food Bank’s headquarters. A “flip the switch” event on April 22 marked the official start of power generation from this landmark system.
The solar installation, among the largest of its kind in North Carolina, represents a milestone in mission-aligned sustainability. Comprising 1,702 solar panels and spanning nearly two acres of rooftop, Solar Harvest is projected to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 197 homes annually and avoid nearly 1 million pounds of carbon emissions each year.
“This project reflects our commitment to sustainability—not just as a value, but as a strategy to power more of our work,” said Eric Aft, Chief Executive Officer at Second Harvest. “Solar Harvest is a big leap toward our vision of a more food-secure, environmentally responsible future.”
Second Harvest's sustainability journey began in earnest in 2019 with the creation of a committee to shape the design of its new facility, which opened in 2022. The rooftop solar project was made possible through the partnership and expertise of Piedmont Environmental Alliance, donor support, and the use of tax credits made available through the Inflation Reduction Act. In 2023, the organization was named Green Business of the Year by PEA.
“This project is a powerful example of what’s possible when nonprofits, community leaders, and forward-thinking federal policies come together,” said PEA’s Executive Director, Jamie Maier. “We are just so proud of our Green Business Network partnership with Second Harvest. Working with them on this project from feasibility to final flip of the switch was a true honor.”
The project is expected to save Second Harvest $143,000 each year—funds that will be reinvested directly into programs that provide food, nutrition education, and workforce development for neighbors across 18 counties of Northwest North Carolina.
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About Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina
At Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, we believe that everyone deserves to eat; that access to food is a fundamental right—the foundation for living a healthy life and for communities to thrive. Our core mission addresses the immediate needs of families for food assistance. Partnerships with farmers, food manufacturers, retail grocers, and our broad community of supporters, enable Second Harvest Food Bank to serve as the primary source of food for a network of 500 local food assistance programs serving communities across 18 Northwest North Carolina counties. Surrounding these efforts is our Food Bank’s work to address underlying drivers of food insecurity, including workforce development, partnerships with healthcare, nutrition education, public policy advocacy, and more.
As a member of Feeding the Carolinas and the national Feeding America network, Second Harvest plays a critical role in disaster response, ensuring communities have access to food and needed supplies in times of crisis, including the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene. Our Second Harvest Food Bank team has always been here for our community, from daily meals to disaster relief. Today, we’re addressing the urgent needs caused by Hurricane Helene that have severely impacted many of the communities we serve. We will continue providing food and support with dignity tomorrow and for as long as it takes as our neighbors rebuild.
About Piedmont Environmental Alliance
Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA) is a Winston-Salem based nonprofit that is committed to a more just, resilient, and environmentally sustainable Piedmont Triad. Since its founding twenty years ago, PEA has been effecting change by educating and empowering students, convening diverse groups of community stakeholders and leaders, and influencing elected officials on the most pressing environmental and climate justice imperatives. In 2024 alone, PEA and its partners sparked more than $4M of new clean energy investment locally. Learn more about PEA’s work at peacnc.org