Sebastopol, Calif. — Entrepreneur and pioneer cheesemaker Jennifer Lynn Bice has been concerned with the carbon footprint used to distribute her natural goat milk products to customers around the country who want them. “Because fewer people consume goat milk products as compared to cow dairy, it is important for us to have a wider geographic area of distribution to be able to do what we love and be a viable business” explains Bice, owner of the 45 year old Sebastopol business. “By installing our solar system we have offset in a much greater percentage the transportation costs of distributing our goat milk, cheese, yogurt and kefir. This is very important to us.”
Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery worked with local firm “One Sun” to design and install the 586 kW DC solar system which uses 2,548 Silikin 230 kW solar modules, made in California for Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery. For the design, One Sun selected the highest quality components in the industry ranging from PV Powered 260 kW inverters to the redundant disconnects allowing maximum flexibility and accessibility to shut off portions of the array if needed.
The project will encompasses nearly two acres of roof space produces 810,840 kWh offsetting 100% of the projected energy needs of the creamery. The CO2 reduced annually is equal to 110 acres of trees saved, 54 cars off the road or 76 homes powered.
A local Sonoma County Business, One Sun has designed and/or installed large photovoltaic systems around the Bay Area and Northern California.
Redwood Hill Farm is a family farm that has been producing fine quality goat cheese, milk, yogurt, and kefir in Sebastopol for over 35 years. Sustainably farmed since 1968, protecting the environment and agricultural open space has been a constant focus and commitment for Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery.
Redwood Hill’s yogurt and kefir is widely available nationally through natural foods grocery stores, coops and independent retail outlets while it’s artisan cheeses are available in fine specialty stores and cheese counters throughout California, Oregon, Washington and in various cities in the Midwest and East. Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery also ships cheese directly to restaurants and individuals throughout the country.
Source: Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery