PEA organizes community to decrease fossil fuel infrastructure in the Triad
In 2025, PEA organized community members against a methane gas pipeline, Transco's Southeast Supply Enhancement Proejct (SSEP), that is proposed to cross Guilford, Forsyth, and Davidson counties. Across the Triad, residents showed up at meetings, volunteered at local events, submitted public comments, and passed local resolutions calling for stronger oversight.
In the spring and summer PEA and partners from Sierra Club held several meetings with County Commissioners, showed up to give comment at meetings, and presented to the full Commission. On August 28, the Forsyth County Commissioners passed a bipartisan, unanimous resolution opposing Transco’s proposed methane gas pipeline in the county!
Are you a resident of the Piedmont Triad who wants to organize against fossil fuel infrastructure? Contact us to learn more about how PEA can support your efforts.
PEA Helps Second Harvest Food Bank Go Solar
Piedmont Environmental Alliance is empowering businesses in the Triad to make BIG moves when it comes to clean energy.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, in partnership with Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA), announced the launch of Solar Harvest—a 1-megawatt rooftop solar array now operational atop the Food Bank’s headquarters. A “flip the switch” event on April 22, 2025 marked the official start of power generation from this landmark system.
The solar installation, among the largest of its kind in North Carolina, represents a milestone in mission-aligned sustainability. Comprising 1,702 solar panels and spanning nearly two acres of rooftop, Solar Harvest is projected to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 197 homes annually and avoid nearly 1 million pounds of carbon emissions each year.
Want to learn more about Operation Solar Harvest? Click on a few of stories below to learn more.
“This food bank saved big with solar…” from Canary Media’s Elizabeth Ouzts
“Solar project helps Second Harvest Food Bank reduce costs and carbon footprint” from WFDD’s Paul Garber
PEA & The Arts Based School Win EPA Grant for Winston-Salem's First Electric School Bus
In 2024, The Arts Based School in Winston-Salem became the first in the triad to be awarded $345,000 for the purchase of an all-electric school bus and associated charging infrastructure, via the Clean School Bus Program. This groundbreaking investment in zero-emission transportation will support cleaner air for our children, produce immediate long-term cost-savings for the school, and futher grow our region's clean energy economy. Piedmont Enviornmental Alliance is a member of the Alliance for Electric School Buses and helped team members at the Arts Based School secure funding to win the EPA grant.
Are you a resident of the Piedmont Triad who wants to bring a clean school bus to your school? Contact us to learn more about how PEA can support your efforts.
We're creating healthier, more sustainable schools with greener school board policies.
On Nov. 15, 2022 the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board passed a resolution pledging to integrate environmental sustainability into school operations and curriculum. The resolution takes a systems-level approach to integrating sustainability across the school system. Features include making school facilities more energy-efficient, reducing landfill waste with recycling and compost programs, greening school grounds with more sustainable learning landscapes, and engaging students through curricula every step of the way. Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA) worked with WS/FCS Superintendent Tricia McManus, WS/FCS Operations and Facilities leadership, administrators, school board members, parents, and teachers to develop this resolution and to advocate for more coordination on local sustainability efforts.
After the passing of Resolution for Environmental Sustainability by the school board in November 2022, the district has launched a Sustainability Committee. This committee is currently assessing needs and drafting a strategic plan for incorporating sustainability into operation and curriculum across the district.
Are you a resident of the Piedmont Triad who wants to pass a resolution like this in your school district? Contact us to learn more about how PEA can support your efforts.
Composting Toolkit
In partnership with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, PEA developed a composting toolkit to implement district wide. Composting helps reduce waste and keeps landfills from overflowing, contributing to a cleaner and healthier school environment. Composting initiatives can serve as a model for broader community practices. Therefore, this toolkit is available to download and adjust according to your school district's needs.
PEA is helping connect community members with our city sustainability committee to make a big, local impact.
The city of Winston-Salem is looking for community members to join their efforts to c
reate a greener triad! Committees help inform the city on policies that concern clean air and water, pedestrian paths and greenways, green jobs, and more!
We're guiding local officials in implementing green policies and practices with our environmental agenda.
Each year, our staff and board members work with community members to define primary environmental policy goals for the upcoming year. Our 2024 Environmental Agenda is a list of talking points informed by our members to help our local elected officials work with us to create a more just, resilient, and environmentally sustainable Piedmont Triad.
As part of our efforts to support or local officials in passing robust green policy, this information has been made available to all candidates for local office. We encourage community members to use it to talk with candidates about local environmental issues as well as to ask current elected officials to take action!