Vacaville Fruit Packer has Sunny Outlook with Solar Project
December 2, 2008 by admin
Filed under Installations, Solar News
Solar panel arrays installed by the Mariani Packing Company at their Vacaville, California dried fruit plant.
Starting today, Mark Mariani will begin powering the packing lines of one of the world’s largest dried fruit plants with the same energy source his grandfather tapped at the start of the century-old family business.
“What better resource can you use but the sun that dries our fruit?” said Mariani, 56, chairman and chief executive officer of Mariani Packing Co. in Vacaville.
More than 5,800 skyward-tilted solar panels aligned like orchard trees next to the Mariani plant in Vacaville will generate up to 1.1 megawatts of electricity a year for the next 20 years.
That’s nearly one-fourth of the power Pacific Gas and Electric Co. currently supplies the company to process more than 100 million pounds of dried fruit a year.
Seven New Commercial Installations Highlight Wide Range of Businesses Switching to Solar
November 12, 2008 by editor
Filed under Businesses, Schools & Colleges
Even institutions devoted to God can use a little human intervention every once in awhile. That’s why Bethel Lutheran Church in Cupertino, CA, recently installed a 150 panel solar system with assistance from Akeena Solar. The panels will generate 34,000 kWh each year, and should save the church between $900 and $1200 each month.
Akeena Solar today announced the completion of seven commercial projects with many using the company’s light-weight and non-penetrating Andalay Flat Roof system.
“Considering the electricity costs associated with running a business and the rebates available, solar is a win-win kind of deal,” said Sandy Frazen, president of Creative Labels, a manufacturer of a wide variety of labels in Gilroy who recently installed the Andalay Flat Roof solar power system. “We are cutting our electricity bill, and the Andalay Flat Roof system installed quickly and easily, without any disruptions to our business. My employees and I feel great about the steps we’re taking to be green and energy efficient. It’s simply the right decision, and the timing is right from a business perspective.”
Recently completed, the 200-panel installation on Creative Label’s rooftop is the largest installation in Gilroy. Akeena’s six other small business installations are scattered throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley, and in total the seven projects will provide nearly 235 kW of solar power and reduce carbon dioxide by 269 tons a year-the equivalent to taking 1,500 cars off the road.
Solyndra: Optimized Photovoltaic Systems for Commercial Rooftops
Commercial rooftops represent an enormous potential resource for alternative energy production. In the U.S. alone, approximately 30 billion square feet of commercial rooftop surface is available for PV systems and could be utilized to create in excess of 150 gigawatts of electricity. Globally, this number could be two to three times higher. Tapping even a small fraction of this potential would make a significant impact on the world’s energy needs. Read more
