Renu Energy Solutions completed a 742-panel solar installation on the roof of Truliant Federal Credit Union’s new Hanes Mall Operations Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Credit: Truliant Federal Credit Union
“Renu is thrilled to be the solar partner to assist Truliant’s corporate sustainability initiatives,” said Jay Radcliffe, president and CEO of Renu Energy Solutions. “Truliant is truly paving the way as a leader in our communities by reducing its environmental impact and we are honored to be a part of Truliant’s efforts.”
Truliant recently converted the former three-story Macy’s store at Hanes Mall into an operations center for the credit union. It used 51,000-sq-ft of rooftop space – about the size of a football field – for the 352-kW bifacial solar installation. The system is fully operational.
“Just as we work to be good stewards of our members’ finances, Truliant is committed to doing the same for our environment,” said Todd Hall, president and CEO of Truliant. “Rooftop solar panels are just one of several sustainability initiatives in place at our Operations Center that help to move corporate social responsibility forward locally.”
The system is estimated to produce 485,000 kWh in its first year. The solar project is the largest rooftop solar installation in Forsyth County. Truliant will directly receive all of the power from the panels.
“We hope that Truliant adding to our inventory of rooftop solar builds momentum for others who may be considering corporate sustainability projects in their business as a tool to draw workers, accommodate growth and spur more economic activity while preserving usable space and retaining the character of our city,” said Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines.
North Carolina ranks fourth nationally for total installed solar capacity, according to the SEIA. Solar accounted for 45% of all new electricity-generating capacity added to the U.S. grid through the third quarter of 2022, more than any other electricity source, according to SEIA.
News item from Renu Energy Solutions
““Just as we work to be good stewards of our members’ finances, Truliant is committed to doing the same for our environment,” said Todd Hall, president and CEO of Truliant. “Rooftop solar panels are just one of several sustainability initiatives in place at our Operations Center that help to move corporate social responsibility forward locally.””
This would be the public ‘good neighbor’ press release.
“The system is estimated to produce 485,000 kWh in its first year. The solar project is the largest rooftop solar installation in Forsyth County. Truliant will directly receive all of the power from the panels.”
This is the ‘bottom line’, cost of energy will go up Truliant seems to get this and as State and Federal chase mandates like decarbonization of the grid by 2035, electricity costs will increase some 50% to possibly 75% in the next 10 years. So, with a large building (former mall) with say a monthly $35,000 a month electric bill today, in 10 years for the same energy use, the electricity will cost from $52,500 up to something like $61,250 a month for electricity alone. The national news cycle is showing some old “malls” are being repurposed as ‘other’ assets move, is not related directly to consumer products. I’m surprised that “higher minds” of today aren’t buying into these properties and using these large buildings to house stacked “shipping” containers of ESS power blocks. These large commercial buildings have medium voltage and sometimes high voltage feeders that can handle several MWh of energy. The infrastructure is in place and the space for large scale local ESS facilities is already built and ready for ‘occupation’. Malls are falling into bankruptcy and big box stores are closing acrossed the U.S. it is time to ‘repurpose’ many of these into new business campuses or large local ESS facilities to offer resilency to entire neighborhoods during emergencies, high energy use times of the day or night.