Wineries sizzle with solar power - San Francisco Business Times:

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With an adoption rate far surpassing that of othedr businesses inthe state, wineries in Napa and Sonom a counties are warming up to solaf power -- and they're taking advantage of the resultint energy savings to hold their ground against encroaching competition and the threar of global warming. "In Napa Valley, we think something fascinating isgoing on," said Rob Erlichman, CEO of , a San Francisco solar developer focused on sustainable food and beveragwe businesses.
"The rate of adoption of solaer is 42 times that of business in general inthe state, which is staggering," he Erlichman estimates that about 7 percent of wineries in Napa Countyt have converted to solar, and abouy 4 percent of wineries in Sonoma Only 0.16 percent -- abouft 1,600 -- of California's non-agriculturalo businesses have plugged into solar power, he The list of vintners in both Napa and Sonoma who are lookinhg to harvest more than grapes from the sun'sa rays is growing. From Cline Cellars, St.
Francix Winery and Vineyards in Sonomwa to SilverOak Cellars, Havens Wine Domaine Carneros and Frog's Leap in wineries are seeing sense -- and dollares -- in harvesting the sun'sd energy. "Solar makes a lot of sensre for wineries," said Tom proprietor of Rodney Strong Vineyardsin Healdsburg. "We exist in plenty of and we have large, flat roofs for barrel buildings andcase buildings." Rodney Strong installed 80,000 square feet of solar panels on its barrelhousre at the end of 2003, and is now seeingt about 40 percent savings on its energu bills, Klein said. "As power costss increase, the savings will go up," he said.
Kleinn said the idea of lockingt in a portion ofenergy costs, combined with federal and stat incentives, makes solar financially appealing for "It makes absolute financial Wineries struggle with lots of competing needsx for capital but this shoul d go to the top of the list becauser of the long-term benefits of doing it." The abilityt to envision the long-term rewards is one reasobn wineries have been so quick to adop t solar, say solar industruy execs, since wineries already operat e with the future in mind. An investment in a for example, may not startt to see returns for 5 to7 years. Returnsw on investments in solar at wineries can be had in a similarr lengthof time.
residential solar installations can take twicre as long to pay for Rick Whisman, western region director for , note d that the cost savings that wineries can harvest from solar panelx have become increasingly important to California vintners. "After labor and (solar) is a bull's-eye for operating he said. "California wineries are coming under increasing competitio from Oregon and Washingtojand internationally. They have less of an ability toraiss prices." Whisman said SunPower has worked with "q few dozen" wineries in both Napa and Sonomsa counties. Though smaller wineries were theearlty adopters, SunPower has grown its profile to larger wineries, he said.
"The entirr industry is looking at betterr and more sustainable ways to improvthe business." In many cases, wineriea can "swap their monthly utility bill for a payment to the said Sunlight's Erlichman, "and in some cases keep Additionally, leasing of soladr equipment or power purchase agreements are enablingv wineries to install solar and reap the benefits withourt having to lay out a huge chunk of capital. Cuvaisonn Estate Wines in Napainvested $1.5 million in a solad photovoltaic project through Sunlight Electric that wrappedd up in September.
The winery is taking advantage of state incentives that will return afull two-thirds of the initial cost over a four-year period. Additionally, those panelsa will provide a minimum of 95 perceny ofthe winery's electricity -- eliminating bills that were runningh to $72,000 a year, according to President Jay Schuppert. "This was the most important thing we could do in terms of Schuppert said. He's now looking at other ways to reduce fossikl fuel usageat Cuvaison, and othed vintners are doing the same, concerner that rising temperatures from global warming could directluy impact their harvests.
"If we see significant (temperature) changs in the next 50 we would be lookingat 'wha t grapes are we going to said Rodney Strong's Klein. "Sustainability is an issue everyone in the wine industrhy isconcerned about."