Hubbard hazlenut company celebrates shift to solar power
HUBBARD, Ore. (AP) – A hazelnut company in northwest Oregon has been pushing out nuts on nothing but the power of the hot, summer sun.
The Statesman Journal reports (http://stjr.nl/2eywS4d ) NW Hazelnut Company’s plant is operating entirely on solar panels. The company on Friday held a ceremony to celebrate its sustainability shift, which was attended by Gov. Kate Brown.
The panels come from Earthlight Technologies, which produces solar panels from recycled material.
Company co-owner Larry George says the project, including the replacement of halogen lights in the facility with LEDs, ran up a bill of roughly $1 million. With the energy savings and government incentives, however, George plans to offset the costs within five years.
