California Growers, Processors, Tapping Sun

December 8, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

A small but growing number of California growers and processors are tapping the sun to help power their operations, San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Bernadette De Chiaro, a clean energy advocate with Environment California, told SFC that she has seen a growing number of agricultural companies install solar panels over the last five years. The trend has been particularly visible among wineries and packing plants that have high refrigeration and air conditioning costs.

Wineries such as Constellation Wines, Frog’s Leap, Foster’s Wine Estates, Jarvis, and Robert Keenan, have installed solar systems in a move to be more green.

Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Akeena Solar, which installs solar energy systems, told SFC that about 50 to 100 wineries are using solar energy.

Companies that install solar panels can qualify for rebates, federal tax credits on the purchase and installation costs, they can also get credits from utilities for any unused solar power they send to the power grid.

Mariani Packing Company recently completed a 1.1 megawatt solar power system at its Vacaville, Calif., headquarters.

Last year, Paramount Farms, a supplier of pistachios and almonds, opened a 1.1 mega-watt, $7.5 million solar plant in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Stay competitive through sustainability.

Find out how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Best Practices: Product Environmental Compliance

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

JEONG CHUN PHUOC on EU Poised to Give Heavy Industry Free Carbon Permits
"“Competitive Intelligence in Environmenting : A Holistic Deal for..."

Philip Vandenberg on Building an Energy-Efficient Data Center Using Virtualization Technology
"Rob has implemented many best practices for data centres..."

George Hoguet on Rising Sea Levels Would Hit U.S. East Coast Hardest
"Want to add some pressure into the system? Check out the Facebook group -NO TV..."

Environmental Leader