Pierceton, IN and Harvard, IL — (September 24, 2020): OMCO Solar announced today the completion of a 1.7 megawatt array for Harvard, IL based Pedigree Ovens. Honoring the bakery’s 25+ years producing top-of-the-line pet treats, the array was custom-built into the shape of a dog bone and paw. Spanning roughly 4.2 acres, the ground-mount solar array will produce approximately 2,044,224 kilowatt-hours of power each year – enough energy to fully cover the company’s energy needs.
In addition to powering Pedigree Ovens’ entire operations, the solar power generated will annually offset 1,456 tons of greenhouse gases.
“Since 1996, Pedigree Ovens, The Pound Bakery and Petdine have been producing top-of-the-line private label pet treats. We have a long history of contributing to the Harvard community; investing in clean energy is yet another way we demonstrate our commitment,” explained Kurt Stricker, owner of Pedigree Ovens, The Pound Bakery and Petdine.
In addition to saving money on energy costs, the array will help assure a sustainable clean energy future for the Harvard community. “Over the next 25 years, the array will offset 9,000 metric tons of CO2, the equivalent of 50 railcars of coal from being burned and the equivalent of more than 22 million passenger vehicle miles,” he noted.
The array, originally planned for the facility’s roof, had to be revisioned and moved to the ground to provide for Pedigree Oven’s future expansion plans. In addition, careful placement of the modules was crucial in order to maintain the dog bone and paw imagery. Indiana-based OMCO Solar created and manufactured the mounting and racking for the installation, making sure the blue, silver and black-on-black modules were aligned to ensure visual consistency. The solar system was engineered and procured by Simpleray, a solar energy company with offices in Iowa and Illinois. Althoff Industries, an Illinois-based HVAC and electrical firm, directed the construction and module placement. SMA-America contributed the inverter and HT-SAAE created the customized modules for the dog bone and paw print.
From the air, the finished array flows seamlessly. “It’s ‘pawesome’,” said Stricker, “and a perfect statement about everything that we do and care about.”
Eric Goodwin, Director of Business Development for OMCO Solar remarked, “This array is an excellent example of partnerships at work, as all of our vendor partners contributed to the successful installation of this creative and unique array. In addition to the visual aesthetics, the investment in solar saves money on energy costs and reduces the company’s carbon footprint.”
“One of the most rewarding elements of working in renewables is the myriad advantages that clean energy brings. Moving to solar power benefits the employees, the business and the community at large, and ensures a resilient, sustainable, clean energy future for decades to come,” concludes Goodwin.
About OMCO Solar
OMCO Solar is America’s premier one-source, OEM manufacturer of solar tracker and mounting solutions for the community and utility-scale markets. The company’s expertise in fixed tilt and single axis tracker systems stems from decades of steel manufacturing, beginning in 1955 when OMCO Holdings, its parent company, was founded. To date, OMCO Solar has delivered over 8GW of factory-direct, high-quality solar mounting structures worldwide. With a manufacturing footprint spanning coast-to-coast, the company delivers solar solutions to developers nationwide. For more information, please visit OMCO Solar at www.omcosolar.com
About OMCO Holdings
OMCO Holdings is the largest custom roll former in the United States. OMCO is also the industry frontrunner for the design and implementation of roll-forming efficiency and has been producing highly engineered shapes from simple to complex for a wide range of industries since 1955. Complementing its roll forming capabilities, OMCO has extensive capacity and expertise in progressive die stamping, in-factory mounting structure assembly, welding, tube manufacturing, and all aspects of metal fabrication.
