Solar Systems Combined Will Produce Enough Power to Run the Equivalent of 160 Homes
InterChange Group, a regional third-party logistics provider and developer based in Harrisonburg, Va., signed an agreement with Secure Futures to install solar energy systems on four separate facilities located along the I-81 corridor between Winchester and Harrisonburg.
Secure Futures, based in Staunton, Va., will install 1.6 megawatts of solar power generating capacity on rooftops of four warehouse locations owned and operated by InterChange, enough to power the equivalent of about 160 homes. Consisting of a total of 4,698 solar panels altogether, once placed into service in summer of 2018, the four solar arrays will offset 45% of the electric power used by all four sites combined.
“We believe sustainable, long-term solutions are valued by our customers and the communities where we operate. Our team has worked hard to use natural resources more efficiently and to reduce the environmental impact of our operations,” said Kevin Longenecker, chief financial officer of InterChange. “Implementing solar technology was the next logical step in the effort to become a leader in green logistics and warehousing services.”
While helping InterChange reduce its environmental footprint, the four solar installations will also save each warehouse facility significant money on energy each year.
“As a logistics provider serving industries including food and food products, InterChange operates cold storage warehouses and other facilities that are heavy users of electricity,” said Tony Smith, PhD, president and CEO of Secure Futures. “Producing solar energy on site will help InterChange facilities reduce the amount of power they need to purchase from the local electric utility, especially at times when energy demand is highest, cutting the company’s power bills.”
As part of its companywide sustainability plan, InterChange plans to use the four solar installations along I-81 as models for future solar energy systems that it plans to install on both new and existing facilities across its service area in Virginia.
Construction of the solar energy systems is partially funded by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Photos of InterChange Group facilities that will be fitted with solar panels:
About InterChange Group, Inc.
Founded in 1993, InterChange Group, Inc. is a regional Third Party Logistics (3PL) provider and developer based in Harrisonburg, VA. With a building portfolio of nearly 2.0 million SF, over 500 acres of prime industrial/commercial land and a staff of highly experienced warehousemen, InterChange is positioned to meet the supply chain and distribution needs of a variety of industries. For more information: www.interchangeco.com
About Secure Futures, LLC
Secure Futures, headquartered in Staunton, Va., and with a second office in Richmond, Va., combines state-of-the-art solar technology with an innovative business model to make commercial-scale solar affordable in Virginia. As the only B Corp-certified solar power company in Virginia, Secure Futures is committed to helping customers realize the economic, environmental, and community benefits of on-site clean energy. The company currently owns and operates more than four megawatts of solar properties in Virginia. For more information: www.securefutures.solar
