AmeriPride Installs Solar Panels in Odessa (TX)
PCI Solar has completed installation and commissioning of a rooftop solar energy system for AmeriPride Services Inc. at its Odessa, TX, processing plant. This is AmeriPride’s second solar energy project, following a rooftop installation at its Worcester, MA, location.
The solar projects are part of AmeriPride’s broader environmental sustainability effort that includes alternative-fuel vehicles, heat reclamation systems, equipment upgrades, and water conservation and treatment. The company was one of the first commercial laundries worldwide to earn the industry’s ‘Clean Green’ certification, signifying its production facilities meet the highest international standards for water efficiency, energy conservation and best practices for reusing, reclaiming and recycling resources.
“AmeriPride is committed to leading the industry in environmental sustainability by testing and incorporating new technologies, such as solar power, that help move the textile industry forward,” said Mike Lavoie, director of mechanical engineering for AmeriPride. “As one of the biggest players in the industry, we have the resources to pilot innovative new programs that benefit our company, our customers and the community.”
The rooftop solar energy system, composed of Hanwha Q Cells 335 Watt panels and Fronius inverters, will offset approximately 15% of AmeriPride’s energy use at its Odessa site. To overcome a somewhat complicated interconnection, PCI Solar worked closely with AmeriPride officials to ensure that the proposed design solution was compatible with AmeriPride’s ongoing business operations at the facility.
To help the project make economic sense, PCI Solar leveraged Oncor’s cash rebate for solar energy projects. The rebate program, renewed for 2017, will provide $0.85/Watt toward the cost of the system. When combined with federal tax credits, the project offered a compelling ROI (return on investment) to AmeriPride.
Austin’s PCI Solar has helped Texas companies leverage the Oncor rebate, federal tax credits and energy bill savings to obtain a compelling return on their solar investment. Customers ranging from manufacturers like Athena Manufacturing in Austin to Holt Cat dealerships in Cleburne and Fort Worth have chosen PCI to be their solar provider. These companies chose PCI to help them go solar due to compelling project economics and PCI's local presence and experience building projects in Oncor territory.