Pine Gate Renewables Announces Partnership with Asheville GreenWorks to Develop Pollinator Habitat
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Asheville, NC (February 2, 2021) — Pine Gate Renewables announced today that it donated $5,000 to Asheville GreenWorks for the development of a pollinator habitat along the River Arts District trail. As part of the City of Asheville’s French Broad Riverway Tree & Riparian Enhancement Plan, multiple pollinator habitats will be planted in the coming months, the first of which is a pollinator meadow pilot project that will cover .35 acres.
“We’re excited to contribute to the betterment of our local community,” said Ben Catt, CEO of Pine Gate Renewables. “For years, Pine Gate has been studying and implementing various environmental improvements at our solar sites through our SolarCulture™ initiative and this new pollinator meadow will be our first in our hometown. Creating and sustaining biodiversity is imperative for Asheville and the preservation of the ecosystem.”
“Asheville GreenWorks is so pleased to partner with Pine Gate Renewables to support increasing pollinator habitats along the French Broad River,” said Dawn Chávez, Executive Director of Asheville GreenWorks. “With their generous contribution, Pine Gate Renewables is both supporting pollinators and enhancing green space in Asheville’s River Arts District for all to enjoy.”
Starting in February, Asheville GreenWorks will begin preparing the land with a cover crop to suppress weeds and help build productive soil and then begin seeding with a mix of grasses, sedges and wildflowers to provide a habitat for multiple species. The pollinator meadow will also improve water quality by reducing fertilizer runoff. By spring, residents can expect to see a blooming garden including Oxeye Sunflowers, Wild Bergamot, Blackeyed Susans, Narrowleaf Mountain Mint and Licorice-scented Golden road, among others.
SolarCulture™ is Pine Gate’s trademarked initiative started in 2017 that protects and preserves the land on which its solar farms exist to help native plants and animals thrive. Pine Gate regularly collaborates with environmental organizations to pursue the development of SolarCulture initiatives for its solar projects, which have included animal-permeable fencing, pollinator habitats and native seed plantings, as well as housing the largest solar farm apiary in the United States.
“Asheville GreenWorks has been doing important work in our community for a long time, and we look forward to continued partnership with them for the pollinator meadow and other projects in the future,” said Catt.
About Asheville Greenworks
Asheville GreenWorks inspires, equips and mobilizes individuals and communities to take care of the places we love to live. Since 1973, GreenWorks has worked to enhance the community through educational and volunteer-based environmental programs. With thousands of volunteers, GreenWorks engages the community in grassroots projects such as tree plantings, environmental cleanups, anti-litter and waste reduction education, creation and maintenance of pollinator habitat, and care and preservation of Asheville’s rivers and trees. www.ashevillegreenworks.org.
About Pine Gate Renewables
Pine Gate Renewables is a fully-integrated utility-scale solar development company headquartered in Asheville, NC. As a leader in the industry, Pine Gate focuses on forging partnerships to expand its renewable energy footprint nationwide. Its mission is to provide renewable power for local communities across the country through project development, financing, construction and environmental preservation. Awarded the gold medal in the energy category for Inc.’s Best in Business 2020 list and named #6 on Inc. 500’s list of “Fastest Growing Energy Companies” in 2018, Pine Gate Renewables is blazing a trail to “Get Solar Done.” For more information, visit PineGateRenewables.com.
