Tomorrow, The North Face’s 800,000-square-foot Visalia Distribution Center is dedicating a ground-mounted solar energy system that will power 25-30 percent of the facility’s energy needs.
The system (announced in August) is expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 1,300 metric tons annually. The credits will be sold separately.
The system was designed, engineered and installed by Suntech Energy Solutions (formerly EI Solutions), and is financed, owned and operated by Recurrent Energy. One hundred percent of the electricity will be sold to The North Face under a Power Purchase Agreement from Recurrent Energy. (More on solar financing models here.)
The solar energy system is part of The North Face’s broader climate change strategy which includes membership with the US EPA Climate Leaders program and an agreement to offset 100 percent of the CO2 emissions associated with energy use for The North Face’s North American operations.
