GreenSpark has began building on a 679-kW rooftop photo voltaic array at Foodlink’s headquarters in Rochester, New York.
Putting in panels for Foodlink. Credit score: GreenSpark
As one of many nation’s oldest meals banks, Foodlink serves because the hub of emergency meals reduction throughout a 10-county service space within the Larger Rochester and Finger Lakes area. By means of varied applications, Foodlink works to deal with each the signs and root causes of meals insecurity. Now, with the facility and financial savings of unpolluted, renewable power, Foodlink can do much more to advance its mission of ending starvation and constructing more healthy communities.
Developed, put in and maintained by GreenSpark, the photo voltaic array will present Foodlink with a reduction on all utility invoice credit it generates — financial savings that may stay in place for the system’s 25+ 12 months lifespan. This secure supply of long-term power financial savings signifies that extra of Foodlink’s assets could be directed towards nourishing the group alongside its community of member meals pantries, meal applications and different group companions.
The challenge was made doable via a singular partnership amongst three native entities: Foodlink, because the host of the photo voltaic array; GreenSpark, because the photo voltaic contractor; and native renewable power trailblazer and entrepreneur Bob Bechtold.
“Jean and I’ve been investing in renewable power initiatives for the reason that early Eighties,” commented Bob Bechtold. “As a businessperson, you sometimes search for investments that yield a monetary return. On this case, we needed to spend money on one thing significant — one thing that mixes our ardour for renewable power with the worth Foodlink supplies to our group. That worth is eternal, and we merely don’t see how this funding may fail. We additionally deeply worth our partnership with GreenSpark, which continues to spend money on the Rochester financial system and group. It’s really a win-win-win.”
“This challenge represents one of the best of what group partnerships can obtain,” mentioned Kevin Schulte, CEO of GreenSpark Photo voltaic. “It’s a privilege to be a part of a narrative the place a neighborhood entrepreneur is utilizing the success of a mission-driven enterprise to spend money on clear power for a meals financial institution that serves our most weak neighbors. It’s a full-circle second that displays the facility of native motion driving lasting impression.”
“The photo voltaic power challenge at Foodlink represents a transparent dedication to our price of stewardship,” mentioned Carl Simon, VP of Infrastructure & Sustainability at Foodlink. “Renewable power produced at our headquarters will cut back our prices, permitting for extra funds to go instantly towards our mission of ending starvation and constructing more healthy communities.”
Along with supporting Foodlink’s mission, GreenSpark collaborated carefully with Upstate Roofing, a neighborhood Rochester enterprise, and Carlisle SynTec Methods to protect and prolong the prevailing roof guarantee. This additional step ensures each the constructing and its new photo voltaic array stay protected for many years to return.
This new clear power initiative builds on GreenSpark and Foodlink’s ongoing partnership, which started with the Curbside Market electrification project in 2021-22, changing Foodlink’s cellular market automobiles to electrical energy and lowering carbon emissions of their operations. Collectively, these initiatives showcase the facility of native collaboration to strengthen group resilience and sustainability.
The rooftop system is predicted to achieve mechanical completion by early December, with utility interconnection by the tip of the 12 months.
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