UNFI Installs Second Solar Electric System
UNFI along with Solar Works, Inc., the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund and several Connecticut political leaders, dedicated the installation of the largest solar electric system in New England on December 13, 2007.
The 550-kilowatt STC solar photovoltaic system was installed at UNFI’s headquarters and natural foods distribution facility in Dayville, Connecticut. The system is expected to generate approximately 600,000 kilowatt hours of clean energy annually, enough to power more than 67 average New England homes for one year. The system output will avoid over 14 million pounds (over 6,350 metric tons) of carbon dioxide over the 25-year life of the system.
The solar electric system at the Dayville CT distribution center is the second to be installed by UNFI. In October 2007, UNFI dedicated a one megawatt solar photovoltaic system at its Rocklin, CA distribution center. The Rocklin system consists of more than 7,000 panels that cover a massive space - 175,000 square feet, or approximately four acres of rooftop - atop the company's Rocklin facility. The Rocklin system is expected to generate 1.5 million kilowatt hours per year from the system, enough to power more than 226 average homes.
In the Dayville CT project, United Natural Foods partnered with the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), a ratepayer fund administered by Connecticut Innovations Inc. The $1.9 million grant from CCEF is provided through the fund’s On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program. The development and installation of the solar electric system was managed by Solar Works, Inc., a leading renewable energy systems integrator in the Northeast U.S. with over 800 solar energy installations and 25 years of experience.
United Natural Foods, CCEF and Solar Works, Inc. all share a commitment to renewable energy and our environment. CCEF promotes the development and commercialization of clean energy technologies. Solar Works, Inc. is active in commercializing new technologies and developing renewable energy programs for both public and private sector clients.
UNFI’s Dayville, Conn. facility serves as both United Natural Foods’ corporate headquarters and as a regional distribution center in the Company's nationwide distribution network. The facility employs more than 500 people and serves customers in New England and New York . United Natural Foods has the largest warehouse capacity of any distributor in the natural products industry and, with the recent addition of the Sarasota, Florida distribution center, it has more than 3.8 million square feet of space at 17 distribution centers nationwide.