Turning Sunshine into Savings and More Meals for Western Washington
Food Lifeline continuously asks the question – How can we work more efficiently and make our resources go further to maximize our impact?
While exploring ways to make the most of the Hunger Solution Center facility, the Food Lifeline team realized that the answer was over their heads.
The large, flat roof on this 80,000 square foot facility provides an ideal location for a commercial solar panel array. The energy generated will significantly cut the monthly electricity bill, lower carbon emissions, and direct more financial resources to fulfilling Food Lifeline’s mission to increase daily food access for people across Western Washington.
The $2 million up-front installation cost is fully funded by grants from WSU, Seattle City Light, and federal tax incentives. When completed this fall, the solar panel array will save 25-75% of the approximately $16,000 Food Lifeline spends on electricity each month.
These cost savings will be applied directly to the organization’s mission to increase food access to people facing food insecurity in Western Washington.
For the project engineering and installation, Food Lifeline is working with A & R Solar, a company with extensive experience in commercial solar projects throughout the Pacific Northwest.
“This project is a great example of what solar can do beyond lowering electric bills. Every dollar Food Lifeline saves on energy is a dollar they can invest back into serving people across our region. We’re grateful to play a small part in helping them continue that important work.”
— Evan Manderbach, CEO, A&R Solar
When complete, 1416 solar panels, covering an area the size of a football field, will convert sunlight to electricity. The benefits of this clean energy source radiate far beyond the cost savings.
Generating power from the sun reduces reliance on fossil fuels, which in turn lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon reductions from this project are equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 9886 tree seedlings grown over 10 years – a virtual forest’s worth of cleaner air.
Installation began on July 6th and will be finished early this fall. We’ll keep you posted on our progress.