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Beacon of Hope Food Pantry in Marshall, North Carolina, has installed a microgrid with 56 rooftop solar panels and three batteries. The system is designed to keep key pantry operations running during outages; the project is funded largely through a state program for communities affected by Hurricane Helene.
Beacon of Hope Food Pantry in Marshall, North Carolina, has installed a microgrid comprising 56 rooftop solar panels and three batteries, giving the nonprofit backup power for key operations during future outages. The roughly $100,000 project is funded primarily through a state grant program created to support microgrids in counties affected by Hurricane Helene, according to Canary Media.
The system is designed to supply power to the pantry’s internet, lighting, heating, cooling and refrigeration in its food distribution area. Solar panels generate electricity when sunlight is available, while batteries store energy for use later, including at night or on cloudy days. The report does not specify how long the batteries can sustain those loads during an outage.
Beacon of Hope Executive Director Jessi Koontz told Canary Media that the project cost about $100,000 and the pantry paid nothing. The project received the largest share of its funding from a $5 million state grant program intended to install 24 sustainable microgrids in Helene-impacted counties. The report also identifies contributions from philanthropic foundation BuildUS and a bridge loan from regional economic development fund Invest Appalachia.
Canary Media reported that Beacon’s installation was among the first projects in the state initiative to reach this stage. A microgrid at Bill’s Creek Community Center in Lake Lure was also nearing completion. The state program is scheduled to wrap up by next summer, the report said; it did not give a precise date for the pantry system to begin operating.
Keeping Food Distribution Powered
The microgrid is intended to help Beacon maintain essential services if the local power supply fails. Refrigeration and climate control matter to food handling, while internet access and lighting support day-to-day distribution. If those functions remain available during an outage, the pantry may be better positioned to continue helping residents when other services are disrupted.
Beacon serves about 1,700 families in Madison County each month, according to the report. That makes backup power relevant not only to the nonprofit’s building but also to people relying on its food assistance. The installation cannot prevent storms or guarantee uninterrupted service: its actual contribution will depend on system capacity, operating conditions and the length of an outage.
The project also shows how public funding and bridge financing can support a nonprofit installation. Invest Appalachia’s Lauren Sowers told Canary Media that organizations may have to wait more than a year for federal solar rebates, creating a cash-flow gap before reimbursement. A bridge loan can help cover that period, though the source does not detail Beacon’s full financing breakdown.
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Helene Recovery Drives State Funding
Hurricane Helene’s flooding devastated parts of Marshall in 2024, damaging businesses and community spaces along the French Broad River. Beacon’s building, located higher in elevation and several minutes from downtown, was spared. Koontz told Canary Media the pantry retained water and electricity, with only a small puddle in a corner of its thrift store.
In the days after the storm, Footprint Project and regional partners helped set up temporary or other clean-energy microgrids at sites including fire stations, nursing homes and mobile home parks, Canary Media reported. Beacon’s rooftop solar-and-battery installation differs in that it is financed largely through the state initiative announced by Gov. Josh Stein’s administration last August, using funds from the federal bipartisan infrastructure law.
Land of Sky Regional Council is working with the state and local organizations on the initiative. Council energy and economic development manager Sara Nichols said the program has attracted interest in larger projects, but some have faced delays because federally funded equipment must meet federal sourcing rules. The report said the state program’s focus is shifting toward smaller, more rural projects that can move through the process more readily.
“We were one of the lucky ones.”
— Jessi Koontz, executive director of Beacon of Hope Food Pantry
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System Capacity and Start Date
The report does not state when the microgrid will be switched on, its battery storage capacity, or how many hours it can power the pantry’s designated equipment. It also does not provide a detailed breakdown of the shares paid by the state, BuildUS and Invest Appalachia, beyond describing the state as the primary funder.
The state program’s progress remains in development. Beacon and Bill’s Creek were among the projects furthest along, but the report did not identify the number of other installations completed, their locations, or whether the initiative will reach its target of 24 microgrids before its planned end next summer.
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More Rural Projects in the Pipeline
Land of Sky and state partners are continuing to advance projects under the grant initiative. Nichols said the selection effort is turning toward smaller, more rural microgrids, while larger and more complex proposals may require additional review related to federally funded equipment. The program is scheduled to end next summer, according to Canary Media.
The next practical milestone for Beacon is operation of the system. The report did not give a switch-on date or say whether further work remains before it can supply backup power. Readers should also look for later updates on the Bill’s Creek project and the state program’s final number of completed installations.
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Key Questions
What has Beacon of Hope installed?
The Marshall pantry has installed a microgrid with 56 rooftop solar panels and three batteries, according to Canary Media.
What can the system power?
It is designed to support internet, lighting, heating, cooling and refrigeration in the pantry’s food distribution area. The report does not say how long the batteries can sustain those loads.
Who paid for the microgrid?
The project is funded primarily by a North Carolina state grant from a $5 million program for microgrids in Helene-impacted counties. BuildUS also contributed, and Invest Appalachia provided a bridge loan. The full funding shares were not reported.
Was Beacon of Hope damaged by Hurricane Helene?
No major damage to the pantry was reported. Koontz told Canary Media that the building was higher than the flood-prone downtown area and retained water and power, with only a small puddle in its thrift store.
When will the microgrid start operating?
The source report did not give a switch-on date. It said the installation had been completed but did not confirm when the system would begin providing backup power.
Source: rss
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