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Energy in Production – Rain or Shine!

August 28, 2017 02:00 PM

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Estes solar arrayEven a cloudy day didn’t stop power production at the Estes Express Lines trucking terminal in West Middlesex, PA, gateway facility to the northeast. Estes is one of the largest employers in the Shenango Valley area, employing 470 individuals with family-sustaining wages and “on the job” training. 

At their recent ribbon cutting ceremony, Estes showed off 2,150 roof-mounted solar panels that were installed with quick and efficient speed by Dynamic Energy Solutions of Wayne, PA. The solar project was funded in part by a grant through DEP via the PA Energy Development Authority grant program. The 688kW array is expected to produce about 787,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year or the equivalent of annual energy production for eighty average homes in PA.  This, in addition to an upcoming upgrade to energy efficient LED lighting, will account for more than 90% of the West Middlesex terminal’s annual electric consump​tion. This new system’s annual output translates to these carbon-emissions equivalents:

  • 46,924 gallons of diesel fuel
  • 80 homes powered for one year
  • 15,548 trees cleansing the area for one year

Estes solar array

This is not Estes’ first time committing to solar energy.  They have installed solar power at three other sites, one in North Carolina and two in Maryland.  Bob O’Connor, regional vice president of Estes Northeast, said, “Estes is committed to do their part when it makes environmental and business sense to do so.”

Gov. Tom Wolf expects Pennsylvania to become a leader in solar energy. Toward this end,  Finding Pennsylvania's Solar Future​ is the statewide project team, led by DEP, developing a plan to source 10 percent of PA’s electricity consumption from in-state solar projects by 2030.  The project team holds quarterly public meetings: Find out more about their next meeting, September 14 at Villanova University.​ 

For more information, check out our Energy Success Story: Estes Express Lines​ case study.


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