1,384 solar panels bring award-winning sunscreen manufacturer closer to its 2030 goal of NET-ZERO
The 486.7kW rooftop solar array at W.S. Badger is expected to generate approximately 600,000 kWh of clean electricity per year which will cover 100% of Badger’s electrical needs. Photo courtesy W.S. Badger.
With a flip of the switch, W.S. Badger, an award-winning manufacturer of organic personal care products and a certified B Corporation, will transition to 100% solar power for all of its operations. On Monday, August 17, at 10 am, Badger welcomed several distinguished guests, including Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky, State Senator Jay Kahn, and representatives of New Hampshire’s Congressional delegation, to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its headquarters in Gilsum, New Hampshire.
The 486.7-kilowatt array, which consists of 1,384 solar panels installed by ReVision Energy, will produce zero carbon emissions. As one of the largest rooftop and ground-mount photovoltaic arrays in the region, it is expected to generate approximately 600,000 kilowatt-hours of clean solar electricity per year, the equivalent of taking 61 cars off the road, planting 338 acres of trees, or removing over 590,805 pounds of carbon from the atmosphere.
“Clean, renewable energy is the future, and our future begins now. Switching to solar has been a long-held dream. This amazing array is a daily reminder of Badger’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint,” said Rebecca Hamilton, Co-CEO of W.S. Badger Company. “It’s also a smart financial decision, especially in these uncertain times, as entering into a solar power purchase agreement (PPA) meant no capital outlay on our part to make it happen. This is a model that businesses can and should seriously consider. We’re grateful to ReVision Energy and its impact investors, our partners, the community, customers, and employees for it a reality.”
The project is made possible through a PPA under ReVision Energy Solar Impact Partners, with no upfront cost to Badger. Under the PPA, the impact investor Blue Haven Solar, with the assistance of lending partners NH Community Loan Fund and NH Charitable Foundation, will own and operate the solar array for a minimum of five years to take advantage of available tax incentives. Badger will purchase solar-generated electricity at a negotiated rate below the cost of traditional grid electricity. After five years, the Company will have the option to buy the system at a significant discount and continue generating free solar power for decades.
This project is estimated to save Badger $1.6 million over the 25-year warranty period and $3.8 million over the 40-year lifespan of the system. Not only will the array provide significant cost savings for powering its 23,000 square-foot-facility, but it will also allow the Company to support the community by sending some of the energy produced to its neighbors—a win-win for all.
“As an employee-owned solar company and fellow B Corporation, ReVision Energy is thrilled to partner with Badger as they become one of the first 100% solar-powered manufacturers in the region,” said Dan Weeks, ReVision’s Director of Market Development. “Our solar installers have been using Badger balms for years because they work and because the company behind them is a model of social and environmental responsibility. To know that these balms, along with Badger’s many other healing products, are now being made with power from the sun is good news all around.”
During periods of peak power demand in the spring and summer months, the system will provide up to 100 percent of the power required for Badger’s manufacturing facility in Gilsum. This will help reduce demand on the local power grid and provide the facility with a reliable energy source. And when the system generates more power than Badger may need at any point in time, such as on weekends, that excess is exported back to the grid to benefit local customers. A metering system tracks the flow of power and applies discounted net metering credits for power sent to the grid.
Hamilton went on to say, “When it comes to reducing the impact of how we consume and use energy, this is a major milestone for Badger. We’ve always had a forward-thinking approach to sourcing, formulating, and packaging our products. Everything we do, we strive for green. Now we can proudly state that our beautiful post and beam facility and the products we make on-site are powered by the sun.”
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