The 1.57 megawatt, multi-million dollar solar project features 4,992 solar panels in a six-acre field, and is projected to generate 2.3 million kWh of power each year, while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1,616 metric tons every year.
“This is another exciting environmental project for our company here in Harbeson and we are grateful to all our partners for making it happen,” said Joe Moran, president and CEO of Allen Harim, during the company’s ribbon cutting on May 15. The energy produced by the solar panels will supply about 11 to 12 percent of the energy used at the Harbeson facility, he said.
Allen Harim will purchase 100 percent of the power produced from the solar panels under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The project was developed by Alternative Energy Development Group, Berwyn, Pennsylvainia, and is owned and operated by Onyx Renewable Partners.
During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Chris Fraga, founder and CEO of Alternative Energy Development Group, presented a check for $10,000 through the company’s Watts for Wishes charitable giving program to establish the Allen Harim Legacy Scholarship fund. Allen Harim will provide a $10,000 matching gift, and set up an endowed fund through the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.
The Allen Harim Legacy Scholarship will provide $2,500 scholarships for children of employees and growers to attend college or trade schools. The company plans to use the savings from the solar project to grow the endowed fund to provide up to five scholarships a year.
“We are pleased with this year’s award recipients, and look forward to creating a legacy that will pay dividends for the families of our employees and growers for generations to come,” said President and CEO Joe Moran. “One of our recipients will be the first family member to attend college and obtain a four-year degree. We look forward to helping make dreams come true.”
This year’s winners include:
- Fantasy Hopkins, of Bridgeville, Delaware. Her mother Michelle Horne has worked at Allen Harim in the Sourcing department at corporate headquarters since 2008. Hopkins graduated from Sussex Technical High School in May and plans to attend the Univ. of Delaware and major in Exercise Science, with the hopes of one day going on to become a doctor.
- Bridgette Laughery, of Seaford, Delaware. Her mother Sheila Laughery has worked in the Credit Department at the company’s corporate headquarters since 2008. Laughery graduated from Sussex Tech in May of 2014 and earned an Associate’s Degree in Architectural Engineering Technology from Delaware Tech. She plans to pursue another Associate’s Degree in Construction Management this fall.
- Macey Mitchell, of Millsboro, Delaware. Her parents, Steve and Wendy Mitchell, own Clear Skies Farm in Millsboro and have grown chickens for Allen Harim since 2016. She is a graduate of Sussex Technical High School and plans to attend Bryn Athyn College, in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, where she plans to become a Special Education teacher.
- Devin Phillips, of Salisbury, Maryland. His father, Andrew J. Phillips, owns Old Country Farm located on Allen’s Mill Road in Delmar, Delaware, and has been a contract poultry grower with Allen Harim since 2010. He graduated from Wicomico High School in June and plans to attend Salisbury Univ. in the fall to study business.
- Joshua Tucker, of Boonville, North Carolina. His father Charles Tucker has worked in the Breeder Department in Liberty, North Carolina, since 2010. He has been attending Surry Community College but plans to attend Appalachian State Univ. in the fall, where he hopes to study business and accounting, and be the first person in his family to obtain a Bachelor’s degree.
