US pork producer switches to solar energy to power feed mill

It broke ground on the Griggsville, Illinois-based solar array, which is sited on 11 acres adjacent to the mill, in mid-May 2022.Indiana-based, Solential Energy, and mechanical subcontractor, A to Z Solar, completed the installation of 6,800 ground-mounted, fixed-tilt solar panels on October 21. BK Electric and Illinois Electric Cooperative oversaw the grid connection.Headquartered in Carlyle, Illinois, the company outlined how it sought out advice from energy consultant, Jeff Haarmann, managing partner of Affordable Gas and Electric (AGE), along with Solential Energy on how to reduce its energy spend.“In 2019, we were facing an incredible dilemma,”​ said Gerry Daignault, vice president of support operations, at the hog company. “Griggsville is our main feed facility, processing 350,000 tons of grain each year to feed more than 25% of the company’s pigs each year. The…

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