Crayola's Solar Farm Nears Completion

Much of the electricity Crayola uses to make millions of crayons is now being produced on site. The Church Lane headquarters has established acres of solar panels behind its complex of buildings in and the electricity is already flowing.     

"Phases one and two produce about 15 percent of our electricity," said project manager Anjan Bhavsar. "When phase three is complete, it will rise to about 20 percent."     

Power is fed directly into the township's manufacturing facilities, reducing the amount of electricity the company needs from the grid.    There are some 30,000 individual solar panels on the site, covering more than 20 acres. The site gently rolls downhill and it faces south. More acreage is available for future expansion.    

The solar power update was part of an event Tuesday called "Crayola: An Inside Look," with about 35 people attending and held under the auspices of the Business & Commerce Association of Forks and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. It was a rare opportunity for the public to get a glimpse into the operations of one of the best-known brands in the world.     

The tour of the solar power generating complex followed a conference  room presentation by Pete Ruggiero, executive vice president of global operations. He demonstrated Crayola's products, including some of the newer offerings on the market.

In 2009, the company partnered with UGI Corp. and PPL Electric Utilities to construct the solar farm. Once complete, some 1 billion Crayola crayons will be made at the facility annually with the help of the sun. 

Crayola has a long and colorful history. The original company, Binney & Smith Inc., was founded by Edwin Binney and Harold Smith in 1885. Alice Binney, Edwin's wife and a schoolteacher, coined the "Crayola" appellation in 1903.