BARNHART, Mo. -- Home Service Oil Co. has selected Real Goods Solar Inc., a provider of turnkey solar energy solutions for residential, commercial and utility customers, to deploy solar power systems at eight gas station and convenience stores and its headquarters in the greater St. Louis area.
The project will total 378 kilowatts (kW) and the companies expect it to generate approximately 478,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually.
Real Goods Solar will design, install, monitor and maintain the solar power systems. The project involves the deployment of solar power systems on the rooftop of the stations and c-stores.
Construction is scheduled to begin in December 2013 and be completed in January 2014.
The installations "will reduce our carbon footprint while generating significant electricity savings," said Zach Mangelsdorf, director of real estate and development at Home Service Oil Co. "We see this as a smart investment and a great way to use renewable energy in our operations. We also expect these rooftop solar systems to inspire greater customer loyalty by the many environmentally conscious customers we serve."
By harnessing energy from the sun, the chain said that it expects to reduce the facilities costs of electricity by at least $43,000 in the first year. It expects this to add up to more than $1 million over the next 25 years, it said, while eliminating more than 18 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions or the equivalent of taking more than 1,757 cars off the road or not consuming 945,225 gallons of gasoline (per EPA-based data).
Justin Pentelute, Real Goods Solar's president of residential and small commercial systems, said, "This win demonstrates our capabilities to pursue new market segments which have significant regional and national growth potential. Not only are we successfully executing our growth strategies in residential, but we are also gaining traction in small commercial systems that represents a fast-growing part of the market. We are proud to work with Home Service Oil Co. and applaud their decision to go solar to reduce their operating costs and their carbon footprint."
Real Goods Solar, Louisville, Colo., services the commercial and utility markets through its RGS Energy division.
Barnhart, Mo.-based Home Service Oil is a supplier of heating oil, diesel fuels and gasoline. The company also supplies racing gas, methanol, aviation gasoline and jet fuel. It operates 15 Express Mart (EM) convenience stores in Missouri.
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