What do an asphalt plant, a college and a goat-cheese maker have in common? All were among 10 Sonoma County businesses recognized for their unique use of solar and their energy-efficiency measures.
Projects such as the new solar array on the roof of Jim Russell Racing Drivers School Tech Center at Infineon Raceway were honored.
PG&E and the organization Solar Sonoma County honored the businesses on Tuesday (June 28) at the Solar Leaders Circle, an awards celebration for leadership in sustainable business practices and their contribution to solar and carbon offsets. The event was held at Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa.
“The point of the awards is to highlight different businesses from different industries and show the wonderful work they’re doing to reduce their carbon footprint,” said PG&E spokeswoman Brandi Ehlers. “These businesses are on the leading edge of solar technology.”
In addition to the awards, attendees got to hear more about PG&E’s carbon offset program, ClimateSmart.
Here are the winners and their accomplishments:
- Agilent Technologies, which designs and manufactures biological and chemical analysis equipment, installed a 1 megawatt solar electric system and has reduced its energy use and carbon footprint by 3.4 million kilowatt hours over the past four years.
- Asphalt supplier BoDean Co.’s solar electric system is the first ever installed at a rock quarry and will generate 1.1 million kilowatt hours a year.
- The College of Marin installed a 213-kilowatt solar electric parking structure. Last year, the college received $206,000 in rebates from PG&E.
- Infineon Raceway installed a solar electric system that provides more than 40 percent of the track’s electrical use. The raceway also replaced its video board with a solar-powered LED screen.
- Labcon North America, which designs and manufactures disposable plastics for laboratories, installed a 750-kilowatt solar electric system, reducing its energy use by 1.2 million kilowatt hours over the past five years.
- Goat cheese maker Laura Chenel’s Che’vre installed a solar electric system and energy-efficient equipment for refrigeration and waste water. The company also became the first LEED gold-certified cheese production facility in the United States.
- Manzana Products, which makes applesauce and other apple products, installed a 375-kilowatt solar electric system and has saved 286,000 kilowatt hours over the past three years.
- Redwood Hill Farm, which makes goat cheese, milk and yogurt, powers 100 percent of its electric load with its 586-kilowatt solar electric system and has received $32,000 in energy efficiency incentives from PG&E over the past three years.
- Sonoma Mountain Village, a mixed-use community, has earned the highest honor from the U.S. Green Building Council for its neighborhood design. The community has reduced its energy use and carbon footprint by 538,000 kilowatt hours and installed a 1.14-megawatt solar electric system.
- Sonoma Wine Co., a wine production company, installed a 272-kilowatt solar electric system, a solar thermal system and has reduced its energy use and carbon footprint by 3 million kilowatt hours the past five years.
PG&E offers solar information for residential and business customers on its website.
