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Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said Hilltop Ranch, Inc. will receive a $588,000 incentive rebate through the California Solar Initiative (CSI) program for a 574-kilowatt solar project at its headquarters in Merced County.
The goal of the CSI program is to substantially lower the cost and increase the use of customer-owned solar energy throughout the state, the company said in a news release. PG and E said it is committed to incentives that will help bring the benefit of carbon-free power to residential and business customers.
Hilltop Ranch is one of the largest privately owned processors of almonds, handling more than 25,000 tons annually and shipping to buyers in more than 65 countries.
According to Dave Long, co-founder and president of Hilltop Ranch, Inc., the 574-kilowatt solar installation will offset 70 percent of Hilltop Ranch's energy use for the year at their Turlock Road processing facility in Ballico. It will also help eliminate almost two million pounds of carbon emissions annually.
Since January 2007, the CSI program has provided financial incentives for solar installations for existing residential homes as well as existing and new commercial, industrial and agricultural properties. The CSI program set a goal to create 3,000 megawatts of new solar-produced electricity statewide by 2017. Through the CSI program, PG&E has the potential to provide an additional $670 million in solar incentives.
For more information on the CSI program, visit www.pge.com/csi/.
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