Phoenix Solar Inc. and Silicon Ranch Corporation announced plans to build a 200-kilowatt solar system on the roof of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. For Phoenix Solar, the Second Harvest project is the largest rooftop installation in the United States.
Construction on the rooftop is currently underway with completion scheduled in the second quarter of 2012. The project will require the installation of 840 solar modules.
The solar project at the emergency food bank is the first non-profit partnership of its kind in Tennessee, and serves as a model for how non-profit organizations can use the financial benefits of solar power to offset costs and provide greater levels of service to the community.
As owner of the solar facility, Silicon Ranch will sell the electricity to Tennessee Valley Authority and share a portion of the proceeds with Second Harvest. In turn, Second Harvest will use the proceeds to reduce costs and redirect the savings to distribute 480,000 meals to needy residents in a 46 county service area of Tennessee. Phoenix Solar will provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services as well as long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) services.
The partnership between Phoenix Solar and Silicon Ranch is an outgrowth of a previously announced strategic alliance to develop, finance and construct solar photovoltaic plants in Tennessee and throughout the South-eastern United States.
"Over the past 18 months, Second Harvest has been evaluating opportunities to reduce our expenses and lower utility costs in order to respond to the growing needs of the communities we serve," said Jaynee Day, President & CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. "This partnership provides an easy, cost-effective solution that also incorporates clean, renewable solar power.”
"Silicon Ranch approached Second Harvest because of the critical mission Second Harvest provides to the community and for the progressive nature of its leadership," said Matt Kisber, President & CEO of Silicon Ranch Corporation. "Second Harvest's management and board of directors have successfully grown and managed an enterprise that provides almost half of Tennessee with emergency food assistance.”
“We are excited to once again be a partner with Silicon Ranch on this rooftop solar project,” said Dr. Murray Cameron, President and CEO of Phoenix Solar Inc. “We are especially pleased to play a pivotal role in helping Second Harvest because the emergency food bank provides such an important community service.”