Silicon Ranch and Phoenix Solar Announce Partnership to Install Rooftop Solar Plant at Second Harvest Food Bank

NASHVILLE, Tenn. and SAN RAMON, Calif., Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Solar Inc. (www.phoenixsolar.com) and Silicon Ranch Corporation (www.siliconranchcorp.com) today 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. 

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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."

About Silicon Ranch Corporation
Silicon Ranch Corporation (www.siliconranchcorp.com) was formed for the purpose of developing and operating utility-scale solar facilities. What distinguishes Silicon Ranch from other solar developers is its ability to deliver a green energy solution that addresses the environmental, business and work force issues associated with successfully expanding solar capacity and green jobs.



About Second Harvest

Organized in 1978, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee (www.secondharvestmidtn.org) is a private, not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization.  Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee's mission is to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger issues in our community. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is one of the largest and most comprehensive of over 200 food banks and food distribution centers nationwide and a member of Feeding America - The Nation's Food Bank Network.  

About Phoenix Solar
Founded in 1999, Phoenix Solar is a global leader in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic power plants, having installed or sold more than one gigawatt of capacity. The company's technology-neutral approach allows us to objectively provide the best solar solutions for our customers. Phoenix Solar Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Phoenix Solar AG, headquartered in Sulzemoos, Germany (www.phoenixsolar-group.com). For more information about Phoenix Solar Inc., please visit www.phoenixsolar.com.

SOURCE Phoenix Solar Inc.