We are pleased to announce that Carolina Bronze Sculpture, NC’s only commercial fine art bronze casting foundry, has recently received a Rural Energy for America Program Grant for $50,000. This grant will help fund solar panels and a geothermal system for heating and cooling. The solar panels will generate over 75% of the current electrical usage and the geothermal project will heat and cool over half of the facility. An added bonus will be the pond used for the geothermal system. It will do double duty as a sculpture park and walking trail. Anticipated completion is December, 2015.
Carolina Bronze is dedicated to being environmentally responsible. Recycling and reusing materials is done as often as possible. “This grant will help continue our commitment to the environment and provide a sculpture park and trail that can be used by the community and visitors to the Seagrove area. This has been a dream of mine since I first built the foundry on this property 20 years ago. I am elated that it is finally becoming a reality.” says Ed Walker, owner. An additional pond with more sculpture and trails are in the planning stages.
The Rural Energy for America Program is sponsored by the USDA Rural Development Department. It offers small businesses in rural areas grants and loans to help pay for energy efficient and renewable energy projects. Area Specialist, Lynn Straughan, guided Carolina Bronze through the grant writing procedure. Carolina Bronze will be working with The RED Group from Lewisville, NC , www.redgroupnc.com who will be providing the solar panel array and Comfort South from Biscoe, NC, www.comfortsouth.com who will be installing the geothermal system.