Looking Back on 2025 + 2026 Greener Resolutions: Highlights from Sugar Hollow Solar

Jan 5

As 2025 has come to a close, we reflect on a year full of growth, community partnerships, and renewable energy milestones. From expanding our Repower WNC program to supporting local businesses and organizations, it’s been a year of building resilience—both in our communities and in the next generation of solar leaders.

Sugar Hollow Solar and COO Clary Franko Honored by NCSEA

Sugar Hollow Solar was named Sustainable Energy Business of the Year by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA), recognizing our resilience, growth, and leadership in advancing clean energy across the state. Despite losing more than $1 million in inventory during Hurricane Helene, we maintained strong year-over-year growth, continued supporting customers, and launched the Repower Western NC Fund to help communities rebuild with clean, reliable energy.

In the same year, our Chief Operating Officer, Clary Franko, received the Women in Clean Energy Award, honoring her more than 13 years of leadership in renewable energy. Since joining Sugar Hollow Solar in 2020, Clary has played a key role in scaling our impact, achieving B Corp Certification and BBB accreditation, and guiding the team through extraordinary challenges with clarity and compassion. Together, these awards reflect our commitment to people, community resilience, and a clean energy future for North Carolina.

Repowering WNC and Youth Education

One of the highlights of our year was continuing the Repower WNC Program, which focuses on expanding access to solar energy and creating hands-on learning opportunities. Through a partnership with Camp Grier’s WORX Project and Land of Sky’s Go Places program, we hosted a small group of local youth for a multi-department solar experience.

Participants explored everything from marketing and sales to solar installation, gaining practical skills and insight into a growing industry. Beyond learning, the project contributed to solar and battery backup installation at Camp Grier, providing a hub for education and community resilience.

“This experience was great. I can tell they really care about their customers and employees. I would work here one day if the opportunity ever became available,” one participant reflected.

Supporting Community and Sustainability

In 2025, Sugar Hollow Solar continued our long-standing commitment to showing up for our community — not just with clean energy, but with tangible support for the people and organizations doing meaningful work across our region.

Community Giving & Partnerships
This year, we contributed over $55,515 in donations and sponsorships to local nonprofits, schools, and community organizations working at the intersection of environmental stewardship, education, equity, and resilience. That includes support for longtime partners like Earthshine Nature Programs, along with dozens of others across Western North Carolina — from food systems and wildlife protection to housing, clean energy advocacy, and local markets.

While our formal referral partnership with Earthshine will transition to a new partner in 2026, we’ll continue working alongside them through Repower WNC, keeping our shared commitment to education and access to clean energy strong.

Events, Sponsorships & Local Impact
Beyond direct donations, we proudly sponsored and supported a wide range of local events and initiatives — including community radio, farmers markets, environmental nonprofits, schools, and grassroots organizations — helping strengthen the networks that make this region so special.

15 Years of Solar — Celebrated Together
2025 also marked a major milestone: 15 years of Sugar Hollow Solar. We celebrated at our new office with hundreds of neighbors, friends, and partners — featuring live music, local food, hands-on kids’ activities with Science Steve’s mobile science pod, and even a custom compost station. It was a joyful reminder that this work has always been about people as much as power.

Measurable Climate Impact
Thanks to the collective impact of our installations, Sugar Hollow systems produced enough clean electricity in 2025 alone to power 2,770 homes for an entire year. That energy offsets carbon emissions equivalent to 219,772 tree seedlings grown for 10 years, helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels while building a more resilient energy future for our communities.

Greener Resolutions for the New Year

As we move into 2026, we’re launching our Greener Resolutions campaign to help homes and businesses start the year with energy they can count on. With $500 off each battery until January 31, 2026 — including expansions — we’re making it easier than ever to save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and gain reliable backup power.

Whether it’s a personal goal, a business initiative, or a community-minded resolution, transitioning to solar and battery storage is a concrete step toward living a greener resolution every day. At Sugar Hollow, we’re embracing our own greener resolutions too: recycling materials from old or damaged panels, expanding EV charging for staff and company vehicles, and rolling out an employee sustainability program that will include employee-led initiatives like waste audits to reduce our environmental impact.

We’ll also be sharing client stories, highlighting local sustainability projects, and inviting our community to share their own greener resolutions — a chance to inspire others and enter our raffle to win a special prize. By taking small and big steps alike, together we can make 2026 a year of real impact, cleaner energy, and stronger communities.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we step into 2026, we’re excited to:

Expand community programs and youth education in renewable energy
Partner with new organizations to further the mission of Repower WNC
Continue reducing waste and implementing employee-led sustainability initiatives

From small acts of giving to large-scale solar projects, 2025 reminded us that renewable energy is about more than panels—it’s about creating opportunity, building resilience, and strengthening the connections that make Western North Carolina thrive.

Here’s to another year of innovation, learning, and community impact — and to helping our customers, employees, and neighbors achieve their Greener Resolutions in 2026!