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Helping a Seafood Company Responsibly Catch the Sun.
‧Clean, natural source of electricity for 150 employees.
‧118 kW solar solution handling up to 20% of peak load.
‧200,000kW output to date, delivering more than $30,000 in savings.
‧Avoid generating 109 tons of CO2 per year.
‧Reinforcement of North Coat’s commitment to sustainability.
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Overview
North Coast Seafoods, one of New England’s largest seafood processors and distributors, is optimizing the bounty of the ocean by drawing on the power of the sun. Through a partnership with Gloria Solar, North Coast has taken an important first step toward reducing energy costs and helping the environment. The result? The largest solar energy solution in Boston and a smart move toward a brighter tomorrow.
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Stemming the Rising Tide of Energy Costs.
When your business relies on the sea, you naturally look toward the horizon. So when North Coast Seafoods of Boston, MA was contemplating its energy options in 2004, they set their sights on renewable resources.
“As an industry leader, we always look for ways to be innovative,” said Norm Stavis, North Coast’s President and CEO. “We saw that energy was going to be an issue downstream, particularly because our buildings are refrigerated facilities. So we began exploring alternative forms of energy to see what would be best.”
North Coast found its “best” in a solution from Gloria Solar.
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Mapping Out Boston’s Largest PV Installation.
North Coast looked at many forms of renewable energy – including wind and hydronic hot water – before choosing Gloria Solar. The decision was based on a number of factors, most importantly, incentives from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, solar’s long-term ROI, and Gloria Solar’s track record.
“Gloria Solar was a tremendous partner,” continued Stavis. “They were on their game about exactly what was going to happen, how we were going to get the system up and running, and what we needed to accomplish. And they held up their side of the equation perfectly.”
Gloria Solar designed and implemented a 118 kW photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of North Coast’s 110,000 square-foot processing and distribution center on Boston’s waterfront. PV panels were meticulously installed around air vents, AC units and other obstructions, avoiding shadows and maximizing roof space. Completed in only two months, North Coast’s solar electric installation is the largest in Boston and the second largest in Massachusetts. Said Stavis: “By partnering with Gloria Solar, we were able to produce lower electricity, have a good return, and yet be green.”
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Navigating a Sea of Regulatory Requirements.
As a full-service solar company, Gloria Solar helped North Coast with all aspects of its implementation, from design to installation. In addition, the two companies united their efforts to obtain a government grant covering nearly half the system cost.
“It’s one-stop shopping with Gloria Solar,” Stavis explained. “They came out and visited the facility to see what could be done, had a structural engineer make sure the roof could hold whatever needed to be installed, provided a turnkey quote and even helped us with all the government applications and paperwork.”
Because solar system installations of North Coast’s scale were unprecedented in New England at the time, it was imperative that Gloria Solar and North Coast form a close working relationship. According to Stavis:
“Given the early stages of renewable projects, you face a lot of questions and a lot of skepticism. You need a very professional partner standing with you when march down that road together and Gloria Spire was that – very much so.”
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Netting Economic and Environmental Benefits.
North Coast’s solar solution employs 672 self-ballasted PV modules that covert the sun’s energy into AC power for the electrical distribution system of the company’s Boston facility. The system:
‧Provides clean, sustainable energy during peak demand periods when costs are highest
‧Enables North Coast to sell valuable Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)
‧Is expected to offset 109 tons of greenhouse gases each year
‧Strengthens North Coast’s commitment to reducing global warming and its impact on fisheries.
“We’re a prototypical American business,” said Stavis. “Our job is to remain competitive at all times, to become the highest-value, lowest-cost producer we can. Energy has now become, and will increasingly be, a component in our profitability. When we control our energy costs, we become the lowest-cost producer and remain competitive in a global environment.”
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Sailing Toward Energy Independence.
North Coast views its solar system as a good investment and an important first step toward protecting the environment. In fact, the company is currently exploring renewable energy options for its New Bedford facilities.
“We are willing to do whatever we can to reduce our energy dependency and to support the things that will lead us to solving the country’s energy problem in the future,” concluded Stavis. “No single form of renewable energy will do it, but these small steps are going to get us moving forward. And we’re proud to say we’re willing to take those steps.”
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