Prudent Living Wins Bid to Build Largest Private Solar Power Project in Vermont
By Melanie Raskin, Prudent Living Publicist | April 27, 2012
By Melanie Raskin, Prudent Living Publicist | April 27, 2012
WINDSOR, VT -- Prudent Living, an Upper Valley company offering services, strategies, products and a community that encourage a prudent way of life, including alternative energy solutions, recently won the bid to install the largest private solar power system in Vermont. The $1.3 million photovoltaic project for Black River Produce of N. Springfield, a wholesaler to stores and farmers’ markets of fresh, organic and specialty produce and products for more than 30 years, will use 1600 240-watt solar panels to cover 62,300 square feet of roof, generating enough power to save as much as 50% of Black River’s annual utility bill.
“This is a very exciting project for us,” said Prudent Living Vice-President Tim Biebel. “We’re delighted by the environmental leadership Black River Produce is showing and proud to be a part of that good stewardship. Beyond being the largest privately-built photovoltaic system in Vermont, what’s really rewarding about this project is that Black River Produce brings people high quality, delicious, garden-fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty products. And now they’re going to do it in a way that is good for the planet that grows those fruits and vegetables, with clean energy from the sun.”
With this installation, Black River Produce will be protected from rising electricity costs and, more importantly, reduce their carbon footprint. “One disadvantage of our business is that we’re energy hogs, with a need for reliable refrigeration and many diesel delivery trucks,” said Mark Curran, Partner, Black River Produce. “Because of our big carbon footprint, we’d been looking for a better way to use energy for years but the payback was too long, as much as 20 to 30 years. But, this year, with good pricing, tax credits and Prudent Living’s innovative micro-inverter system which keeps one failing solar panel from taking down the whole system, it was much more feasible.” The impending solar project is just one of many renewable energy solutions Black River has adopted. “The cheapest watt is the watt you don’t use,” Curran explained. “We redid our lighting to make it more efficient. Our refrigeration system is computer-controlled . We power our fleet of trucks with vegetable oil from our restaurants converted to bio-diesel. And now, we’re investing in ourselves and our environment with solar power. Our goal is to get as much local food on the plate as possible. More than 22% of our sales were locally-raised products from more than 120 Vermont farms. Being socially responsible fits our philosophy. It’s a win-win for everybody.” For more information, visit www.blackriverproduce.com.
Prudent Living is an Upper Valley company offering services, strategies, products and a community that encourage a prudent way of life. Started in 2009 by Biebel Builders, quality home and commercial builders in Windsor, Vermont since 1976, Prudent Living provides customers with energy-efficient architectural design; green strategies for homebuilding and renovation; energy audits; and renewable alternatives such as solar, wind and geothermal. More than just builders of houses, Prudent Living helps people build an intentional life –whether it’s by carefully managing natural resources, spending more wisely by investing in a home energy audit and energy efficient upgrades, or by safeguarding the health of the planet and contributing positively to the environment. The Prudent Living community relies on the dynamic web site, informative blogs and free quarterly Prudent Living e-Magazine for practical suggestions for daily life. The company will soon launch Prudent Living Market, an e-commerce site of prudent products.
CONTACT:
Tim Biebel, Vice-President Prudent Living 866.924.3235 tim@prudentliving.com
What? Another "energy" project for Springfield? Call out the NIMBYs!
ReplyDeleteThey probably won't like the blue roofs that would clash with the aesthetics of the houses near the industrial park. Or maybe they will consume too much sunlight?
DeleteEnough already about the biomass and your problem with the NIMBYs. There is a big, big difference between the health problems caused by biomass and the clean production of solar energy.
DeleteAnd, like I've said before, if you are not a NIMBY, why not offer your backyard for the biomass plant?
Several already have, unfortunately the North Springfield industrial park is the ideal place for it.
DeleteWhat an interesting name for the industrial park in North Springfield, Nimbyville Park.
DeleteNimbyville would be fine with me. Not only do I not want it in MY backyard, I wouldn't want this biomass plant in ANYONE's backyard! It spews toxic stuff!
DeleteWhy didn't you put up such a "stink" when this toxic stuff was put into the schools.
DeleteProbably because it made sense and saved the school system a lot of money. What comes out of your domestic woodstove, and probably your pellet stove is much, much worse. Course we could continue to rely on Vermont Yankee and damming all the rivers in Canada.
DeleteI think I am done making comments on this site. I'm feeling abused. I had hoped that we could have an actual intelligent discussion about this, but you've never responded to any of the facts that I have pointed-out about the american lung association denouncement of biomass, the fact that it will not create that massive influx of jobs that you describe, etc. Call me a NIMBY, tell me your family has been here for 40 years, call me anti-springfield. I don't care.
DeleteIf you are interested, I will have a home for sale about 1/4 mile from the biomass plant. If you wait until the plant is built, you'll be able to pick it up for about 10% less than it is worth now!
Good bye dogluvrinvt...
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteBye dogluvrinvt,sorry to have your words of reason go we will miss you.
DeleteHow absolutely exciting.
ReplyDeleteOh, good Lord, first the possibility of trucks rumbling up and down our roads carrying fuel to the BIOMASS PLANT and now the prospects of gazillions of photons hurtling into Springfield and bombarding 62,300 square feet of photovoltaic cells! PLEASE...MAKE IT ALL STOP! After all, THIS IS STILL SPRINGFIELD!
ReplyDeleteYour sarcasm shows your ignorance. With comments like that, you are a prime example of what is wrong with Springfield. But of course we can’t expect you to understand this.
DeleteSay "No" to sarcasm!
DeleteTo Anonymous 08:37: No, actually the sarcasm shows just that, sarcasm. It's your "ignorance" that attaches "new meaning" to it! How small minded your are!
DeleteIt is not sarcasm that is dumb it was the content of the statement. "DUH" So who is ignorant?!?!?!
DeleteHow many kilowatts per month does an average home in Springfield use? It looks like this plant will generate 384 kw at maximum, which sounds pretty impressive, but I have no idea how that compares to domestic consumption. Do the 24v panels still have the problem of failing when an area gets shaded (e.g., tree shade)?
ReplyDeleteThrilling! Great job Black River!!!
ReplyDeleteBut where is the money coming from. Follow the money.
ReplyDeleteMore important where is the money coming to? Springfield, duh.
DeleteExcellent! Way to go BRP!
ReplyDeleteOh great, this will probably increase the truck traffic in Springfield because with all the savings in energy costs they will probably expand their business which means more truck traffic on our roads.
ReplyDeleteSay no to truck traffic, say no to renewable energy.
Go find your grape basket!!!!
DeleteIsn't that simply awful that an industrial park in North Springfield might actually attract industry, where oh where did we go wrong?
DeleteBlack River Produce has an opportunity to harvest solar energy. Who in this frantically innovating society is going to quarrel with efficiency? Besides, few businesses support our local economy as much as much as BRP. Springfield residents drive the trucks that distribute the food grown on Vermont soil, letting the farmers stay on the land to tend their crops, as it should be. As our economy has been showing us these past several years, if businesses fail to adapt they can and will fail. Bravo! A nice move toward future-readiness.
ReplyDeleteOliver, I don't know, but I am sure there will be some NIMBY from North Springfield up to the challenge!!
DeleteGet over it all you anti Springfielders, lose the bad attitude. BRP is doing a good thing, not related to biomass. No one complained when Ivek put in their solar field.
ReplyDeleteBut a few of you had to make derogatory statements about it, but that, once again has to do with this Anti Springfield attitude.
These aren't "Anti Springfield" attitudes. They're merely a parody on the emergence of an anti-industrial/anti-capitalist culture of a town that has been starved economically for over three decades now and basically turned its fate over to the state and federal governments.
DeleteGreat idea Black River Produce but please hold the line on your course of action the nimby's will find something wrong for sure.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want this plant in the industrial park which happens to be in your neighborhood then pack your stuff and bail the hell out of Springfield move to Chester and whine about Dollar General. Your house will sell in a heartbeat because of the Biomass thousands would be happy to have it and Chester would be happy to have you. Bye-Bye.
Applause!
DeleteHow did Black River Produce get associated with the industrial park when it isn't even located there?
Delete
ReplyDeleteThis blog site has lots of really useful info on it! Cheers for informing me!
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