Snyder's-Lance completed the largest ground-based solar farm in Pennsylvania.


Snyder's-Lance, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., completed the largest ground-based solar farm in Pennsylvania. Covering 26 acres and comprised of 15,092 solar panels, the 3.5 MW solar farm is located across from Snyder’s corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant in Hanover, Pa.

The solar farm is expected to generate 4,453,136 kilowatt hours (kWH) and save close to 30% of the current energy costs for the facility. The solar farm will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in excess of 230 million lb. of carbon dioxide over a 25-year period. As a comparison, the energy created from the solar field equals more than 111 million miles not driven by a medium-sized car, and more than 11 million trees would need to be planted to equal the same level of carbon dioxide reduction.

The solar installation, managed by RMK Solar, Reading, Pa., started in September 2010 and took nine months to complete. Plans for the solar farm began in 2009 when Snyder's-Lance implemented its five-year sustainability goals. Other initiatives included development of renewable and compostable packaging that is currently available nationwide.

"This is a very exciting time in the history of our company," says Carl Lee, president and COO of Snyder's-Lance. "The solar farm shows the commitment that Snyder's-Lance has made to creating snack products in a more sustainable way. Our goal has always been to make better-for-you snacks, and now they are also better for the earth as well."