City Market, Burlington’s only community-owned grocery store, is officially powered by the sun. After a year of planning and a few weather delays, the installation of 136 solar panels on the Co-op’s roof is completed. The project will generate 31 kilowatts of power which will help the Co-op to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by at least three percent.
The Co-op’s monthly bill from the Burlington Electric Department (BED) is approximately $17,000. Freezer and refrigeration units that run continuously use a lot of energy. The solar project is just one piece in the Co-op’s commitment to energy efficiency and green building practices. “We have been working on many different projects to improve our energy efficiency and the solar power project is one of the largest and most impactful,” said Pat Burns, City Market Operations Manager. “We will be generating enough electrical energy to power six Burlington homes for a year.”
City Market worked with Vermont-based groSolar on the project installation. “We’re excited that a high-profile shopping destination like City Market has made this commitment to a clean-energy future,” said groSolar CEO Jeff Wolfe. “The combination of drastically reduced prices and strong government incentives made this project a smart move for City Market. We’re optimistic because we see many more homeowners and businesses taking advantage of the opportunity solar power offers for long-term energy security, financial savings and protection of our most precious resource: our planet.”
The total cost of the project is $187,912 but City Market is paying just over $93,000. Thanks to a $53,900 grant from the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund and the Co-op’s eligibility for a $40,204 federal tax credit the out-of-pocket costs were greatly reduced.
“Once we looked at the numbers and realized we’ll recoup our up-front costs in less than five years, we knew this investment would bring a strong financial return for our members,” said Clem Nilan, General Manager of City Market. “But this is a business decision that also has tangible social and environmental benefits. One of the central tenets of our mission is to make a difference in the lives of consumers. By reducing our carbon footprint and supporting the local green economy with groSolar, we know we’re doing something worthwhile for the community as well.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for Friday, March 12 at 2:00 p.m. at City Market. Representatives from City Market, groSolar, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Mayor Bob Kiss plan to attend. In addition, City Market and groSolar are teaming up to offer a series of free workshops called Solar Made Simple to educate people on solar energy and its use in residential applications. The next workshop is scheduled for March 23 at 6:00 p.m.
About City Market/Onion River Co-op
The Onion River Co-op is a consumer cooperative, with over 5,000 members, selling wholesome food and other products while building a vibrant, empowered community and a healthier world, all in a sustainable manner. Located in downtown Burlington, City Market provides the area’s largest selection of local, natural and conventional foods, and over 1,600 Vermont-made products. Visit City Market/Onion River Co-op online at www.CityMarket.coop or call 802-861-9700.
About groSolargroSolar is North America’s premier distributor, installer and integrator of solar energy solutions for residential and commercial installations. Founded in 1998, groSolar is the largest 100 percent U.S.-owned installation and distribution company in the solar industry. The company has offices and warehouses across the US, distributing solar electric and solar hot water systems from offices in VT, NJ, NY, CT, MA, MD, DE, PA, and CA. groSolar integrates components from leading solar manufacturers including Canadian Solar, Motech, Heliodyne, SMA, Fronius, and UniRac into simple solar energy solutions for customers that generate clean, reliable energy for decades. groSolar is a mission-driven company dedicated to providing high quality solar energy solutions and whole energy appreciation. groSolar’s venture capital investors include NGP Energy Technology Partners, SJF Ventures, and Calvert Social Investment Fund. Learn more at groSolar.com or call 800.374.4494.
Source: City Market. March 8, 2010