Wineries sizzle with solar power - San Francisco Business Times:

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With an adoption rate far surpassing that of othert businesses inthe state, wineriesx in Napa and Sonoma counties are warming up to solar powerd -- and they're taking advantage of the resultingv energy savings to hold theie ground against encroaching competition and the threat of globall warming. "In Napa Valley, we think something fascinatinv isgoing on," said Rob Erlichman, CEO of , a San Francisc solar developer focused on sustainable food and beveragew businesses. "The rate of adoption of solar is 42 timea that of business in general in the whichis staggering," he said.
Erlichmab estimates that about 7 percenft of wineries in Napa Countg have convertedto solar, and about 4 percenf of wineries in Sonoma County. Only 0.16 percent -- abou 1,600 -- of California's non-agricultural businesses have plugged into solar power, he said. The list of vintners in both Napa and Sonoma who are looking to harvest more than grapes fromthe sun's rays is From Cline Cellars, St. Francisx Winery and Vineyards in Sonoma to SilvereOak Cellars, Havens Wine Cellars, Domaine Carneros and Frog'se Leap in Napa, wineries are seeing sensr -- and dollars -- in harvesting the sun's energy.
"Solar makes a lot of sense for saidTom Klein, proprietor of Rodney Strong Vineyards in "We exist in plenty of sunlight, and we have flat roofs for barrel buildings and case buildings." Rodneh Strong installed 80,000 square feet of solar panel s on its barrelhouse at the end of 2003, and is now seeingy about 40 percent savings on its energ y bills, Klein said. "Asw power costs increase, the savingss will go up," he Klein said the idea of lockingy in a portion of energy combined with federal andstate incentives, makes solar financialluy appealing for wineries. "It makes absoluted financial sense.
Wineries struggle with lots of competin needs for capital but this should go to the top of the list becauses ofthe long-term benefits of doing The ability to envisionb the long-term rewards is one reason wineries have been so quiclk to adopt solar, say solar industry since wineries already operate with the futuree in mind. An investment in a for example, may not starg to see returns for 5 to 7 Returns on investments in solar at wineriex can be had in a similatr lengthof time.
Comparatively, residential solar installation can take twice as long to pay for Rick Whisman, western region director for , noted that the cost savingsx that wineries can harvestt from solar panels have become increasinglyy important to California vintners. "After labor and (solar) is a bull's-eyd for operating managers," he said. "California wineries are coming under increasing competition from Oregoh and Washingtonand internationally. They have less of an ability toraiser prices." Whisman said SunPower has worked with "as few dozen" wineries in both Napa and Sonomaq counties.
Though smaller wineries were theearlyh adopters, SunPower has grown its profile to larger he said. "The entire industry is looking at bettef and more sustainable ways to improve the Inmany cases, wineries can "swao their monthly utility bill for a payment to the said Sunlight's Erlichman, "and in some cases keep Additionally, leasing of solar equipmenty or power purchase agreements are enabliny wineries to install solar and reap the benefits withoutg having to lay out a huge chunk of capital. Cuvaisonb Estate Wines in Napainvested $1.5 million in a solar photovoltaivc project through Sunlight Electric that wrappee up in September.
The winery is taking advantager of state incentives that will return afull two-thirdx of the initial cost over a four-yeaer period. Additionally, those panels will provide a minimu m of 95 percent ofthe winery's electricithy -- eliminating bills that were runninh to $72,000 a year, according to Presidentr Jay Schuppert. "This was the most importantt thing we could do in termsof energy," Schuppert He's now looking at other ways to reduce fossil fuel usage at and other vintners are doinfg the same, concerned that rising temperatures from global warming could directly impact their harvests.
"Ir we see significant (temperature) changde in the next 50 years, we would be lookinvg at 'what grapes are we goinhg to plant?'" said Rodneyg Strong's Klein. "Sustainability is an issue everyone in the wine industry isconcernede about."