Lundberg Family Farms, a producer of organic rice, rice products and US-grown quinoa, announced that the company has installed and deployed three new solar arrays at its Richvale, California, headquarters—expanding its onsite generation by more than 250% and increasing its annual offset of energy use to 25%, up from 10%. The company now owns and operates six solar arrays throughout the facility.
The new solar system comprises three separate projects—the largest covering the roof of the company’s new snacks facility, offsetting 45% of that facility’s annual power usage. The second largest, installed at the Harvest Building and Farm Shop, will help offset 60% of the energy for equipment used to dry and store rice. Finally, rooftop panels on the administrative building are expected to generate nearly 80% of its energy needs. Together the three projects are sized at 1.15 MWdc and projected to generate roughly 1,880 MWh annually.
On this new solar initiative, Lundberg partnered with Carlson Electrical Services (CES), Brighter Solutions Energy Consulting (BSEC) and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E).
“The Lundberg Family Farms mission statement is: ‘To honor our family farming legacy by nourishing, conserving and innovating for a healthier world.’ This statement inspires our family and employees with the purpose for our work that started with my grandparents to ‘leave the land better than we found it,’” said Grant Lundberg, CEO of Lundberg Family Farms. “At Lundberg we’re excited to do our part and follow in the footsteps of our founders by looking for ways to nourish, conserve and innovate for a healthier planet.”
Lundberg is assessing its ongoing energy-generation needs utilizing renewable energy generation sources. Through the next fiscal year, Lundberg’s Sustainability Team will investigate the space and capital required to reach 50%, 75%, and 100% onsite generation, in addition to exploring other technologies that will help meet generation milestones.
News item from Lundberg Family Farms
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