The Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC recently held a ribbon cutting at the Heavens Helpers Soup Café for the recent completion of their new “Sun to Soup” solar panel installation!
This project was one of three group projects put on by the Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC’s Leadership Class of 2022, which included HEI’s Nic Cullen. During two of the many issue days throughout the leadership course, the class learned about the Soup Café and their mission. North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak noted to the class that there had never been an energy project completed by any previous leadership class. This fact inspired Nic along with five others in the leadership class to make it their mission to be the first to have an energy project.
The project team worked with Lightspring Solar to look at the feasibility, cost, and potential savings of completing a solar project for Heaven’s Helpers Soup Cafe. After significant structural and electrical system calculations, reviewing electrical bills, and reviewing costs to feed each person, it was determined that this could be a cost effective project that would allow for Heaven’s Helpers to feed an additional 160 people per month or help put money towards their other various missions throughout the community. The project team worked with multiple financial donors throughout the community to fundraise and pay for the project that is to last well over 20 years!
Read a news article about it here.
