SALINAS, CA and VISALIA, CA — CalCom Solar, a leader in design-build solar projects for agribusinesses and water districts, has installed a new 2.2 MW solar power system at D’Arrigo Bros. Co., of CA, a premier grower, packer, and shipper of quality fruits and vegetables, in Salinas, CA. The project received its permission to operate from PG&E on Thursday, April 28, 2016 and is the largest customer-owned net metered solar power project in Monterey County.
"CalCom Solar had the technology and knowledge that helped solar energy work for us, both operationally and financially," said John D’Arrigo, President/CEO and Chairman of the Board of D’Arrigo Bros. "We’ve always put our strong sustainability ethic into practice; harvesting the sun’s power to generate electricity is consistent with our goals. Our business evaluates and assesses technologies and investments to ensure optimal quality and efficiency and we’re always making thoughtful improvements across our entire operation. Solar deployment enhances our business and sustainability goals: it’s a crucial resource that makes great environmental and economic sense, enabling us to reduce our energy costs while improving the bottom line."
"We're very proud to be working with D’Arrigo Bros. a leading grower to provide them with clean, reliable, affordable solar electricity," noted Dylan Dupre, Vice President, Business Development at CalCom Solar. "For over nine decades, D’Arrigo Bros. has continually strived for excellence. By deploying 2.2 megawatts of solar-power, D’Arrigo Bros. serves as an example to the entire agricultural sector. Their new solar power system, outfitted with NEXTracker’s advanced trackers, will generate 4,320,600 kWh annually. D’Arrigo Bros. will significantly lower operational costs annually on utility bills. The system will help D’Arrigo hedge against future utility rate increases, delivering more than $20 million in utility savings over the next 25 years."
In addition to the financial savings, the system will also help in California's efforts to mitigate climate change. This project will significantly reduce CO2 emissions — the equivalent of avoided emissions from not driving 7,282,000 miles per year. "By installing solar, our operational and financial efficiency practices will improve tremendously – as we’ll be able to reduce our peak electrical demand," noted Steve De Lorimier, Vice President, Northern District. The new solar PV array is interconnected under PG&E’s Net Energy Metering Aggregation (NEMA) program, which makes it possible for D’Arrigo to offset many farm meters with one solar PV system. CalCom Solar is installing NEXTracker technology in this array, an innovative self-powered tracking technology aligned with CalCom's focus on helping agricultural customers increase their energy yield while lowering costs.
About CalCom Solar?
CalCom Solar www.calcomsolar.com, CalCom Solar is a design-build company, focused exclusively on solar energy systems for agriculture and water. We design and install systems that offset the high electrical demands of agricultural production while helping customers to reduce operational expenses, improve their bottom line, and farm more sustainably.
CalCom is a 100% employee owned company, based in Visalia, Ca. Our team members have led the deployment of 100+ megawatts (MW) of solar generating capacity for growers, irrigators, water districts, food processors, dairies and other Ag operations. We are responsible for designing, building and maintaining some of the largest Ag solar installations in California and the Central Valley.
About D’Arrigo Bros. Co., of CA
From the day the company was founded by Stefano and Andrea D’Arrigo, two immigrants from Messina, Sicily, innovation has been its hallmark. Our customers can confidently look to us for excellence in everything from seed research and development, food safety and sustainability, to entirely new approaches to packaging, harvesting and shipping. Andy Boy (www.andyboy.com) Broccoli, Broccoli Rabe, Fennel, Romaine Hearts, Cactus Pears and Nopalitos are the company’s mainstays, but D’Arrigo Bros. is also able to provide you with the full scope of your commercial and organic produce needs, cross dock, consolidation, custom growing and commercial cooling programs with an extraordinary level of service.
Source: D’Arrigo Bros. Co., of CA