PRESS RELEASE: Midwest Ground Covers Completes Installation of First Solar Power Project.
PRESS RELEASE
Midwest Ground Covers completes installation of first solar power project.
xx December 2011 | By: Realgy, LLC
Midwest Ground Covers’ St. Charles nursery facility is now powered by 37.5 kW of solar energy.
Realgy, LLC today announced the completion of a 37.5 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system for Midwest Ground Covers, a privately-held nursery and soil materials company serving the Illinois, Ohio and Michigan markets.
The solar PV system was installed on the roof of the maintenance building and is part of the 24 acre site of Midwest Groundcovers facility located in St. Charles, Illinois. “All of our products use solar energy” laughed Mr. Gary Knosher, President of Midwest Groundcovers since we are a nursery and soil supply company. “Adding the ability to generate clean solar energy to satisfy some of our annual electricity requirements is really exciting and builds on our sustainable commitment.”
The solar PV system was installed by Renewable Energy Alternatives of Northbrook, Illinois. This is the first solar project that Renewable Energy Alternatives has completed for Midwest Ground Covers. “Midwest Ground Covers facility is beautiful nursery and agricultural center,” said Bernie Schmidt, President of Renewable Energy. “We are excited to contribute to the use of solar energy for Midwest in generate electricity.”
Realgy, LLC is an alternative energy service supplier in Illinois and is the owner of the solar PV system. Realgy supplies Midwest Ground Covers their electricity and selected them for this installation. Realgy paid for the installation so as to generate renewable energy locally as part of its sustainable commitment.
The Midwest Groundcovers solar PV system will produce over 48, 430 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy annually and more than one million kWh over the next 25 years. That is enough energy to power about 2 average U.S. homes every year. The environmental benefits associated with the system will offset about 900 thousand pounds of carbon dioxide over the initial 25 years of operation.
“We are excited to announce the completion of the Midwest Groundcovers solar project,” said Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy. “Realgy made this investment as a trial and looks forward to Illinois promoting renewable energy so that we can continue to install and provide the benefits of renewable energy to businesses in Illinois.”
Contacts:
Midwest Ground Covers:
Jill Grillo
6N800 Route 25
St. Charles, Illinois
Renewable Energy Alternatives
Andrew Patellaro
3670 Commercial Avenue
Northbrook, Illinois
847-291-7693
Realgy, LLC
Michael Vrtis
1100 New Britain Avenue
West Hartford, CT
860-233-2270