Industrial, Solar  -  May 13, 2021

JBS Foods Powers Illinois Plant With C-PACE Funded Solar

JBS Foods USA in Illinois is saving approximately $250,000 a year in energy costs because of its solar projects funded through the state’s C-PACE program.

The pork processing plant used the program funding to install a 2.6 MW solar array consisting of 7,200 panels in May 2020. Now, the solar array is functioning as the largest renewable energy projects funded by C-PACE in Illinois, Energy News Network reported.

The solar array is expected to generate about 4,000 MWh of electricity per year, offsetting around 5% of the plant’s annual load.

JBS worked alongside Counterpointe Sustainable Real Estate on the deal for a $4.5 million loan, including convincing the Beardstown City Council to participate in the program.

The company is currently pursuing a goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2040. To achieve that goal, JBS has other C-PACE-funded projects in the works, like a biogas generator at its plant in Michigan and another on-site generation project in Florida.

“We got our feet wet. Now that we really know what we’re doing, we can take the 10,000-foot view,” Jim Mullin, JBS Foods’ director of energy procurement, told the publication. “This is really performing well, so where can we replicate it?”

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