Setton to use solar energy

2011-02-21 11:01:25

TERRA BELLA — Setton Pistachio is going solar.

Lee Cohen, the company’s general manager, is at a Western Pistachio Association conference today in Santa Barbara to announce Setton’s plans to use solar energy to partially power its two local plants.

Cohen said he hopes to have the system up and running in May.

“The company is very eager to get the system running,” he said. “Not only will it reduce dramatically our electrical costs, but it also will showcase our commitment to sustainability.”

Forty four-pound modules — 4,872 at the Terra Bella plant and 2,436 at the Pixley plant — will provide 25 percent to 35 percent of Setton’s total electrical consumption and annually offset 1,900 metric tons of carbon dioxide, Cohen said.

The company will continue to receive most of its power from Southern California Edison’s electrical grid and natural gas, he said.

The modules, which will cover seven acres at the Terra Bella plant and three and a half acres at the Pixley plant, will be capable of generating 1.7 megawatts of power, Cohen said.

The project, designed and engineered by Carlsbad-based Synergy Power, carries a price tag of about $6 million. Setton, however, will not have to absorb the entire cost.

In its effort to promote the use of solar power, the federal government will give Setton a cash grant of about $1.8 million.

Additionally, on Saturdays and Sundays, when Setton uses less power, the system will continue to generate the same amount of energy. The excess power will be net metered into SCE’s electrical grid, allowing Setton to bank credits with the electricity supply company and wipe out another 30 percent of the cost.

In the end, Setton is looking at a price tag of roughly $2.4 million.
“It’s a very attractive system,” Cohen said.

Cohen said he expects to see positive returns on the company’s investment in just four years.

“It really makes it economically viable for us,” he said.

Setton is in the process of ripping out its parking lot and repaving it. The modules will be situated on top of newly placed car ports above the car spaces.

“They’ll be serving a dual purpose,” Cohen said of the car ports.

Cohen and Plant manager Jeffrey Gibbons began discussions two years ago about using solar energy at the plants, which, in total, can store 85 million pounds of pistachios.

“We’re excited about it,” Gibbons said. “We’ve looked into it for a while. It made sense to pull the trigger this year.”

Cohen said he was not sure how his company would make use of the money saved on electrical costs, but Setton is “always considering expansion.” He said the company may invest in an additional building or two to assist in operations.

Cohen also said the next truck the company buys will be an electrical truck, which will be able to park next to the solar station and recharge.

“All of our trees run on solar power,” Cohen said. “We feel it’s important to make the same commitment in practice.”

Rooftop panels vs. large-scale rural projects

Rooftop solar panels vs. large-scale rural developments in alternative energy are heating up the debate in Southern CA. Alternative energy, including solar energy, is still being tested in the market and the benefits are long term in reducing our reliance on fossil fuel. In San Diego, CA activists are fighting large scale solar installations stating roof-top panels are sufficient to meet our needs, while in Riverside County, just east of San Diego, the debate is on county resources be used to support large-scale projects without reaping enough of a reward.
The tax breaks and incentives in CA are great right now, but as they dry up, less money will be available for new projects, so what is more important for the long term benefits, roof top solar panels, large scale projects, or both?
Maybe we should test the theory with photovoltaic labs like the ones installed Texas.

According to solar news posted on cleanenergyauthority.com:

Reviewing last week's solar energy news

FEB 21, 2011

George Shultz, the former secretary of state under President Ronald Reagan, was part of a group that called on California to increase its energy security byreducing dependence on fossil fuels and help speed the adoption of renewables like solar through a tax on gas.

The battle over solar incentives is heating up in Congress. House Republicans want to cut an important DOE program, the Loan Guarantee program for renewable energy, that has helped solar manufacturers and project developers get financing for projects.

Without the legislation, large-scale solar projects now in the works and expansion projects planned by solar could be at risk of not getting financing.

Meanwhile Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) may reintroduce legislation to put photovoltaics and water heaters on 10 million American roofs by 2020.

Last week was busy at the state-legislative level as well. Iowa legislators introduced three bills that would create a $10 million fund toincentivize homeowners and small business owners to install solar and wind on their properties. The state is already one of the nation’s largest wind generators, but this new legislation would help increase the state’s solar resource.

Riverside County, Calif., has realized that some of the incentives offered by California could negatively impact the county. The county’s board of supervisors is concerned that it could be forced to spend too much to support large-scale renewable energy projects, without reaping appropriate levels of revenue for the projects.

Riverside County still wants the developments, unlike activists in San Diego County who argue that it doesn’t need large-scale rural developments. They contend that most if not all of San Diego’s electric needs can be met with rooftop solar installations.

Maryland hasn’t been a huge player in the solar market, but recently enacted legislation may make it a larger solar player. For instance, the Maryland Energy Administration’s Project Sunburst Initiative issued a grant to the University of Maryland to support the installation of a 631-kilowatt solar array there.

It’s not the only school to add solar last week.

Two high schools in Pasadena, Texas announced that they had installed photovoltaic labs with three different types of arrays. Students at the schools will learn about how well each type of solar technology works.

There’s some doubt among Texan solar installers about incentive programs in the future. One solar installer, who recently completed installations for a few southern Texas municipalities, said that this year’s incentives already were drying up in his region.

In Colorado, the largest utility cut back on its solar incentives. Having already supported more than 27 megawatts of solar installations in 2010, the company said it expects to support roughly 59 megawatts of new solar in 2011. As such, the company cut its rewards program from $2.35 per installed watt to $2.01 per installed watt.

But on a positive note, a new white paper from Enfinity and GTM Research reported that the U.S. solar market will account for about 10 percent of the entire world market in 2011, up from its historical range of about 5 percent to 7 percent of the international market.