Blog Powering Up Food Justice: Yakima Solar Project Nears Completion September 10, 2026 Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Email Northwest Harvest is going solar! We are nearing completion of a major renewable energy project at the Yakima Distribution Center (YDC) and Fruitvale Community Market (FCM). Last week, staff from across Northwest Harvest joined partners from Ellensburg Solar and local media in Yakima to mark the important milestone. The project, supported through Washington state’s Community Solar Expansion Program, began development in 2025 in collaboration with Ellensburg Solar and Pacific Power; it brings solar energy to both the YDC and FCM as part of Northwest Harvest’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, fiscal stewardship, and community well-being. Following final inspections and utility approvals later this month, the systems are expected to be energized and begin generating enough renewable energy to offset a significant portion of both facilities’ electricity use. Solar panel installation in progress at FCM. Photo by Zeb Vickers. More Than Solar Panels Over the next 25 years, the solar arrays are expected to generate more than $1.2 million in energy savings. Northwest Harvest will redirect these resources directly toward our mission of ensuring everyone in Washington has access to nutritious food. “Communities facing the greatest barriers to food access are often also disproportionately affected by environmental and economic inequities,” said Laurie Eckardt, former institutional advancement officer, who stewarded the project. “By reducing our environmental footprint and operating costs, we’re strengthening our ability to serve communities across Washington while investing in a healthier future for all.” Northwest Harvest and Ellensburg Solar staff. Photo by Natasha Dworkin. A Successful Media Day On Sept. 3, we welcomed media partners to the Yakima campus to learn more about the project and its impact. Reporters toured the distribution center, spoke with Northwest Harvest staff and representatives from Ellensburg Solar, and saw firsthand both the completed installation at the Yakima Distribution Center and ongoing work at Fruitvale Community Market. The day also included a drone photography session with local photographer Ben Ricard, whose aerial images and video beautifully capture the scale of the project and the important role the Yakima campus plays in Northwest Harvest’s statewide hunger relief network. We’ll be sharing out that footage across our channels soon! Solar arrays atop the YDC. Photo by Zeb Vickers. Thank you Thank you to the Northwest Harvest teams who helped bring this project to life, to our partners at Ellensburg Solar and Pacific Power, and to the Washington State Community Solar Expansion Program for making our move to solar possible. We’re excited to see the systems come online later this month and begin generating long-term benefits for our operations and for the communities we serve. Learn More Saving energy and money to meet more demand: Northwest Harvest adds solar panels [Yakima Herald] Solar panels help Northwest Harvest redirect $1M back into Yakima food programs [KNDO Nonstop Local]
