Last Friday, I attended the ribbon cutting for 18 rooftop solar panels, facilitated by SolarEquity on the roof of TABLE at 311 E Main St, Carrboro.
TABLE, Inc. is a nonprofit focused on reducing childhood hunger and food insecurity in Orange County. SolarEquity, in partnership with East Chapel Hill Rotary Club, helped fund the installation of TABLE’s first solar facility, which will lower their energy cost burden and let them further expand their impact. The panels will generate 9.6kW of power and, over the next 30 years will save TABLE up to $59,000 in energy costs. The savings will allow TABLE to direct the money towards expanding their ability to deliver healthy food and nutrition education to children in Orange County.
UNC Senior, Caroline White helped explore funding and logistics on how to supply the panels, which have a 30 year life space.
SolarEquity Vice President, and also a UNC Senior looked over several sites to receive the panels and finally arrived at contacting TABLE. TABLE responded immediately with with a positive response.
Next up, TABLE Executive Director, Ashton C. Tippins shared how the organization serves over 1,200 children a week. Ms. Tippins has been with TABLE since 2012 and has been the Executive Director since 2013. TABLE is excited to have the panels installed, permitting them to extend their reach with savings from utility bills.
Dr. Liz Henke of the East Chapel Hill Rotary Club, shares a thanks to Southern Energy Management for working with them on the project. The Rotary club provided funds to help cover the costs of installing the solar panels. This is not the first solar project the Rotary Club has been engaged in. In 2022, they helped Habitat for Humanity obtain a $95,000 Orange Climate Action Fund Grant.
What’s Next
SolarEquity has already secured $50,000 in funding to install a 23kW system on the roof of the St. Josephs AME Church in Chapel Hill.
