Sun Valley Solar Wins Solar Contract for Gatorade Bottling Facility

Kyle Ritland, Marketing and Customer Experience
Kyle Ritland, Marketing and Customer Experience
October 24, 2013
2 min read

Gatorade cites Sun Valley Solar Solutions' local presence, reputation, and complete design, installation, and service capabilities as deciding factors in their decision to partner with Arizona's leading solar energy firm. 

Pepsico goes solar with Sun Valley Solar Solutions Pictured above from left to right: Tony Grinstead, Maintenance and Engineering Senior Resource, Pepsi Beverage Company; Tom Schaefer, Director of Resource Conservation, Pepsi Beverage Company; Curt Hilliker, VP Commercial Division, Sun Valley Solar Solutions; Jeff Rutkowski, Maintenance and Engineering Senior Manager, Pepsi Beverage Company.

 

Since 2013, Sun Valley Solar Solutions has been helping the Gatorade bottling and packaging facility in Tolleson, Arizona, achieve significant savings through a series of solar energy installations.

The highly-coveted project kicked off in 2013 and attracted interest from six leading solar energy companies nationwide. Chandler-based Sun Valley Solar Solutions assembled the winning bid, including all engineering, procurement, and installation services.

The first 1.7MW system joined a previously installed 500kW system to become Arizona's largest rooftop solar energy plant at its commissioning in 2014. In 2015, Sun Valley Solar was selected again to construct a 1.2MW expansion at the facility. Today, the combined systems produce more than 6 million KW/h of clean, renewable energy or more than 25% of the bottling facility’s total energy requirements.   

"We wanted to find a team that could deliver the complete package from design and installation to ongoing support," explained < Tom Schaefer, Director of Resource Conservation for PepsiCo. "Sun Valley Solar Solutions delivered on all the key metrics required. I'm confident that we selected a great partner and thrilled that the projects went to a local team."

System components include more than 8,600 solar modules, top-grade stainless steel racking from Michigan-based Applied Energy Technologies (AET), and five Advanced Energy inverters.

"Gatorade understands the positive impact that clean energy can bring to the bottom line as well as to the community around them," commented Curt Hilliker, Senior Director of Business Development for Sun Valley Solar Solutions' commercial operations. "Their leadership plays an important role in driving the acceptance of commercial-scale solar energy, and we're tremendously excited to have partnered with them on such an important initiative."

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”