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'How Sweet It Is,' Annabelle Candy Company Says of New Solar System

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February 01, 2012

'How Sweet It Is,' Annabelle Candy Company Says of New Solar System

By Cheryl Kaften
TMCnet Contributor

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The Annabelle Candy Company of Hayward, California, a 60-year-old family owned manufacturer of such popular snacks as Rocky Road bars, recently experienced a remarkably smooth transition to a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) energy system.


“With the financial challenges we currently face in this economic environment, we feel fortunate to have found a way to offset our operating costs and help conserve our precious resources, while continuing to provide jobs for our wonderful employees,” commented Susan Gamson Karl, president and CEO of the San Francisco Bay Area business.




Photos: Santa Clara based commercial solar PV integrator, Vista Solar, recently installed a 438 kW rooftop system for Annabelle Candy Co. in Hayward, California.

Installed by Silicon Valley-based Vista Solar within a three-week period, the new solar power system sitting atop the candy factory comprises 1,424 308W modules, made by SunPower Corporation of  San Jose, as well as SunPower PowerGuard solar roof tiles. The system uses a single inverter made by Boston-based SatCon Technology Corporation and is estimated to produce 438.592 kilowatts (kW), generating 646,855 kilowatt hours (kWh) during its first year of operation, enough energy to power 92 homes. The system will drastically reduce Annabelle's carbon footprint by eliminating the need to burn 52,462 gallons of fossil fuel a year. 

Annabelle Candy chose to use non-penetrating, flat, lightweight solar roof tiles, which will protect the factory’s roof from harsh weather, UV exposure, and changes in temperature (the latter, an especially important consideration for a candy company). The R-10 insulation will reduce the facility’s heating and cooling load by an estimated 30 percent.

What’s more, the new solar energy system will be very cost-effective for Annabelle Candy Company. The first year’s operational savings are expected to be $136,766—an amazing 90 percent offset of the company’s current commercial electricity bill. Over the next 25 years, Annabelle Candy Company looks forward to saving more than $6.5 million in direct commercial electricity costs.

“We at Annabelle’s are proud to be one of the first manufacturing plants in the area to bring solar energy to our facilities,” said Karl.

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Cheryl Kaften is an accomplished communicator who has written for consumer and corporate audiences. She has worked extensively for MasterCard (News - Alert) Worldwide, Philip Morris USA (Altria), and KPMG, and has consulted for Estee Lauder and the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspapers. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Rich Steeves

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