Du Brook Dairy Offsetting as Much as 50% Energy Demand

Kyle Ritland, Marketing and Customer Experience
Kyle Ritland, Marketing and Customer Experience
July 27, 2016
2 min read

At Du Brook Dairy in Casa Grande, Arizona, a 314-kilowatt SunPower solar power system designed and installed by Sun Valley Solar Solutions has reduced the Dairy’s reliance on purchased utility grid power by as much as 50%. It is projected to save over $520,000 in the first 20 years.

“Dairies use massive amounts of electricity from critical technology such as climate.
quad3.jpg Control systems, milking machines, and refrigerators,” said John Robison of Sun Valley Solar Solutions. “Du Brook Dairy owners Pat and Nadine Dugan understand that generating their emission-free solar power while significantly controlling operational costs is a win-win for the community and their business. We are confident that this high performance SunPower system will generate maximum value for the dairy for the next 25 years or more.”

“We talked to several solar providers, and Sun Valley Solar Solutions was the most responsive and helpful,” explained Pat Dugan. “They were very knowledgeable and always available to answer our questions. Plus, their experience with the agriculture community gave us confidence we were in the right hands.” 

DSC_9941.jpgAs part of its services, Sun Valley Solar assisted the dairy in securing a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Energy for America (REAP) grant, which is in place to assist agricultural producers with renewable energy investments and covered 25 percent of the cost of the system.

Sun Valley Solar designed and installed the solar power system on rooftops and custom shade structures at the dairy, which houses over 2000 head of cattle. The shade structures double as cow shading during Arizona’s hot summer months. Both rooftop and shade structures utilize SunPower solar panels, the most reliable and efficient solar panels today, to maximize the power generated on-site over the long term.

“Sun Valley Solar’s installation crew couldn’t have been more professional. Their artistry is top-notch, and the whole thing went up fast with virtually no disruption to our operations,” concluded Dugan.

Du Brook Dairy’s new solar photovoltaic system is avoiding the carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to burning nearly 211,000 pounds of coal, according to estimates generated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator.

Are you interested in learning about solar for your business? We invite you to schedule a consultation with a member of our commercial solar team.

About the Author

Kyle Ritland, Marketing and Customer Experience

Kyle Ritland, Marketing and Customer Experience

After working in technology marketing throughout the Pacific Northwest and Silicon Valley for more than 20 years, Kyle opted to follow his heart and focus his talents in solar energy.

As the head of Marketing at Sun Valley Solar Solutions, Kyle works hard to demystify the ever-changing solar landscape in Arizona and across the country. He especially enjoys helping people separate fact from fiction by presenting solar transparently and accurately, rather than relying on hype or deceptive marketing tactics that are far too common with some solar companies.

When not touting the benefits of solar, encouraging his friends to opt for paper over plastic, or growing his own vegetables, Kyle is generally found hiking with his pointer Bravo or preparing a home-cooked meal for friends.

“If you truly understand how solar works it’s easy to see through the gimmicks. The opportunity for savings is very real when you have the correct information”