Located in North Carolina, MANNA Food Bank recently completed a 514-kilowatt rooftop solar system at its Mills River office and warehouse facilities. The system, installed by Pisgah Energy and utilizing SEG panels and SolarEdge inverters, is expected to generate over 643,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually.

"It is an honor to install these systems for MANNA," said Evan Becca, President of Pisgah Energy. "Utilizing solar power to support operations is another way this remarkable organization helps promote health and well-being in families across Western North Carolina."

For MANNA, this project also represents an investment in the long-term sustainability of its operations. Reducing ongoing energy costs enables the organization to utilize its resources more efficiently and helps preserve more funds for its core work of procuring, storing, and distributing food in the Northwest North Carolina and Qualla Boundary regions.

As families in the region continue to face significant economic pressures, this management responsibility becomes increasingly crucial. Today, MANNA and its network of over 300 community partners serve approximately 220,000 individuals monthly across 16 counties and the Quallah border area. Rising costs of housing, food, utilities, transportation, and other essential living expenses persistently strain household budgets, making it imperative to ensure food banks can meet both current and future needs, which in turn becomes a vital component of MANNA's operational sustainability.

"Every dollar we can utilize more efficiently is a dollar that can provide greater assistance to the community," said Claire Neill, CEO of MANNA Food Bank. "As neighborhoods across Northwest North Carolina are turning to MANNA and its partner network for food assistance at an unprecedented rate, we have a responsibility to consider the long-term sustainability of our work. Such investments help us reduce ongoing costs while building a stronger, more resilient food bank capable of meeting the needs of our region for years to come.". ”

Pisgah Energy successfully secured partnerships for the project, including support from the Footprint Project, a $55,000 donation of solar mounts from Enstall, and a $200,000 BuildUS grant aimed at strengthening energy resilience in rural western North Carolina. Combined with direct payment incentives from nonprofit organizations, this critical funding is expected to help MANNA achieve a payback period of approximately 4.5 years, thereby freeing up essential funds for food procurement and distribution.