Red Lobster, Olive Garden Owner Installs 1.1 MW Solar Array

The owner of Olive Garden, Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse is installing a 1.1 MW roof-mounted solar array at its LEED-gold restaurant support center in Orlando.

Darden Restaurants, which also operates the Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52, says the project will be the largest private solar array in Florida, and will generate enough power to subsidize 15 to 20 percent of the center’s annual usage.  Upon completion later this year, Darden’s solar installation is expected to produce up to 1.9 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, while reducing carbon emissions by more than 1,300 metric tons annually.

Darden describes itself as the world’s largest full-service restaurant company, with more than 1,900 restaurants that generate more than $7.5 billion in annual sales.