SALINAS, CA – D’Arrigo California a premier grower, packer and shipper of quality fruits and vegetables, based in Salinas, CA has installed an additional 1.1 MW of solar power. This third phase of the D’Arrigo California project is located in Gonzales, CA and brings the company’s current total solar capacity to 3.3 MW. A fourth phase adding another 2.2 MW of solar power is expected to come online in the 1st half of 2018. All four phases have been designed by Calcom Solar and combined will generate a grand total of 5.5 MW of solar power for D’Arrigo California.
"CalCom Solar has been an excellent partner in advancing our sustainability strategies to include increasing amounts of renewable energy,” said John D’Arrigo, President/CEO and Chairman of the Board of D’Arrigo California. "We have always championed sustainability as a core business practice and it is gratifying to see the fruits of our labor generate solar power to operate our business on clean energy. We run on solar not only because of its sustainability benefits, which are significant, but because solar energy is fundamentally a smart business decision."
In addition to the financial savings, the supplemental 1.1 MW will significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Over 25 years, the new system in Gonzales, CA will offset carbon emissions equivalent to removing 8,750 cars from the road. The solar power will replace the traditional electrical power on 14 of 17 ranch meters that are active on 1,139 acres.
"D’Arrigo California is building on its 97 year tradition of agricultural leadership by becoming a leader in sustainability and the global transition to clean energy," said Dylan Dupre, Chief Executive Officer, CalCom Solar. "Agricultural businesses of all sizes can go solar to substantially reduce operational costs and improve efficiency. The system will provide D’Arrigo California significant utility savings over the next 25 years and provides significant environmental benefits as well."
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About D’Arrigo California
From the day the company was founded in 1920 by Stefano and Andrea D’Arrigo, two immigrants from Messina, Sicily, innovation has been its hallmark. D’Arrigo California offers strategies and solutions to its customers in everything from seed research and development, food safety and sustainability, to entirely new approaches to packaging, harvesting and shipping. The company’s commercial brand, Andy Boy, is known for signature products like Broccoli Rabe, Fennel and Romaine Hearts. D’Arrigo California grows not only conventional and organic products, but also provides services that include cross docking, consolidation, custom growing and commercial cooling programs.
About CalCom Solar
CalCom Solar, www.calcomsolar.com is a Visalia, CA-based solar project developer and energy services company focused on agriculture and water customers. Founded in California’s Central Valley, CalCom engineers, installs and finances solar and energy storage projects that offset rising electricity costs while helping customers reduce operational expenses, improve their bottom line, and farm more sustainably. CalCom has developed 100+MW of solar to date, including some of the largest agricultural solar farms in the West.
Source: D’Arrigo California