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Crayola's solar farm in Forks Township. PHOTO/PENNENVIRONMENT
Environmental group tours Crayola solar farm
Stacy Wescoe//April 11, 2025//
Local officials and residents joined the nonprofit environmental group, PennEnvironment and Crayola Thursday, for a tour of the manufacturer’s Northampton County solar project and sustainability initiatives.
“Crayola’s commitment to powering crayon production with solar energy shows how iconic American brands can lead the way on sustainability,” said Madeleine Hepting, organizer with PennEnvironment.
In 2010, Crayola built a 20-acre solar farm in Forks Township with over 33,000 panels.
The organization noted that the panels produce enough energy to make 1 billion crayons, 700 million markers and 120 million jars of paint annually.
Since they were installed, the solar panels have saved the equivalent of 25 metric tons of carbon and produced enough energy to power more than 3,000 homes annually.
“Crayola has long been committed to environmental stewardship because it’s important to us that today’s kids have a healthy environment for their creative tomorrows,” said Peter Ruggiero, Crayola president & CEO. “Our solar farm is one of many ways Crayola incorporates sustainability into our business to benefit our company, community and consumers. Over the past decade Crayola has manufactured more than 10 billion crayons and 7 billion markers with renewable energy.”
The company’s additional investments in renewable energy allow for its U.S. manufacturing to be powered by 100% renewable energy.
Crayola also has other sustainability initiatives including the fact that it cools 70% of its crayons with geothermal and making most of its colored pencils from reforested pine.
Currently Pennsylvania is ranked 26th in the nation for solar power production.
Crayola leaders said they hope that their solar farm can inspire other businesses across Pennsylvania to follow their lead, choose clean energy and help Pennsylvania become a solar leader.
