Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin
After finishing its first phase of solar panels in May 2011, a major dairy processing and manufacturing facility in Las Cruces is expediting plans to add more solar electricity to its operations ahead of schedule.
F&A Dairy and Sunspot Solar Energy have broken ground on the second and final phase of the project at the dairy’s facility at 355 Crawford Blvd. in Las Cruces’ West Mesa Industrial Park. Working with Sunspot Solar Energy of Las Cruces, F&A Dairy will add approximately 1,800 solar panels to the original installation of about 430 panels for a combined capacity of 510 kilowatts (kW).
F&A Dairy originally planned to phase in the full 510 kW over five stages, but the initial Sunspot Solar Energy photovoltaic system has been so successful the Wisconsin-based company has accelerated its plans and decided to complete the entire 510 kW system all at once.
“Electricity production has been so good, we’re moving ahead of schedule to take advantage of this clean, affordable technology to reduce our energy costs,” said Bob Snyder, vice president of New Mexico operations for F&A Dairy.
The first stage of F&A Dairy’s solar energy system dramatically reduced the electric bill for its water treatment operations. The company expects to see a similar reduction for other phases of its operation.
Sunspot Solar Energy of Las Cruces designed the photovoltaic system using solar panels made in New Mexico. Upon completion, the system will decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 700,000 pounds and save 1,712,390 gallons of water per year that typically would be used to generate electricity.
“Our company has installed over 300 photovoltaic systems in the area, and people are becoming more interested in the benefits and cost savings of solar energy,” said Mellow Honek, managing member of Sunspot Solar Energy Systems.
“In addition to the obvious environmental benefits, there are financial advantages to consider, like state and federal tax benefits that are available to offset the initial costs, and receiving a monthly check from the electric company for electricity your system produces.”
Founded in Dresser, Wis., in 1958, F&A Dairy has been manufacturing and processing cheese at their Las Cruces facility since 1995, processing 3.4 million pounds of milk daily into mozzarella, provolone and whey products.
New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall has long been an advocate of transitioning to a clean-energy economy. “As a leader in the development of renewable energies, New Mexico is the perfect place for F&A Dairy to install more solar capacity to power their business and save money. I applaud F&A Dairy for their continued investment in southern New Mexico’s economy and congratulate them on the advancement of this project,” Udall said.
Sunspot Solar Energy was founded by a group of Las Cruces professionals determined to bring efficiency and quality to the design and installation of photovoltaic systems across south-central New Mexico.
