Yo u r C e n t r a l V a l l e y S o l a r E x p e r t s SOLAR FOR AGRICULTURE MADE SIMPLE
SOLAR FOR AG It s what I know I can milk every day. I don t have to feed it, and I know it s going to keep making me money. It s the simplest income stream that I ve ever seen. Ben Curti, Curtimade Dairy If utility rates increase at a conservative 3% PER YEAR, Ag operations now paying $250,000 a year for electricity can earn... $7. 5 MILLION SAVINGS over the warranted 25-year lifetime of a CalCom Solar system 1
Transform your energy liability into a productive asset California Ag operations are installing solar power at a record pace. Why? It s the most reliable way to cut energy expenses today, lock in long-term price stability, add millions to the bottom line, and develop a more sustainable business. But with tax breaks and incentives scheduled to end, the time to act is now. Avoid rate hikes. Solar provides a safe, predictable hedge against volatile, rising electric rates. Capitalize on Net Metering Aggregation. Designed specifically for Ag, Net Metering Aggregation delivers breakthrough efficiency to maximize ROI. Take advantage of falling solar panel prices. Even if you priced solar as little as 12 months ago, the economics have improved dramatically. Achieve 100% positive cash flow. Solar has become a safe financial vehicle understood by lenders. There are multiple ways to easily meet your financial goals. Capitalize on CalCom Solar s expertise in designing, permitting, building and optimizing solar energy systems for agricultural operations and transform your energy liability into a long-term asset that pays you money. Irrigation 25% of California energy is used to pump and deliver water. Solar power provides a flexible, proven way to reduce this energy expense and lock in security over the long run. Growers Net Metering Aggregation allows growers to add or subtract meters, depending on how water deliveries, pump loads, and crops and seasons change. The result is a higher peak hour energy offset and dramatically higher ROI. Processing Solar generates the highest returns when energy demands of processing, operations and cold storage are at their peak. That s why so many verticallyintegrated operations are deploying solar. Dairies Dairy producers are using solar power to reduce costs for milk processing and chilling to significantly improve their bottom line.
AG EXPERTISE Your Ag Energy Experts The Ag experts at CalCom Solar have been recognized leaders in California and Central Valley solar energy for more than 30 years: Team members have lead the deployment of 100+ megawatts (MW) of solar generating capacity for growers, irrigators, water districts, food processors, dairies and other Ag operations Responsible for designing, building and maintaining some of the largest Ag solar installations in California and the Central Valley One of the first solar energy providers to capitalize on Net Metering Aggregation for Ag operations Experienced project teams are involved in the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of efficient, cost-effective of solar power installations Extensive experience with Demand Response, Peak Day Pricing, Technology Incentives, and other programs that incent Ag operations to efficiently manage energy use
CEO Nic Stover is a recognized leader in California Ag energy/ water issues. His expertise in solar power and energy mitigation drives our unique ability to deliver comprehensive energy and solar power optimization. VP of Business Development Dylan Dupre is a proven expert in the solar industry. Working on some of the largest Ag projects in California and the Central Valley, he has been responsible for the deployment of 50+ MW of solar generating capacity. VP of EPC/Operations & Maintenance Jason Smith brings 8 years of solar project management, and leadership, delivering solar energy projects for agricultural, commercial, and industrial customers throughout California. A proven track record delivering Ag solar solutions in California CalCom Solar is proud to be the only solar company in the Central Valley that holds memberships in all of the following agricultural organizations: California Cotton Growers Association California Tomato Growers Association Fresno County Farm Bureau Kern County Farm Bureau Kings County Farm Bureau Tulare County Farm Bureau WAPA Water Association of Kern County We also give back in scholarships to the AgOne Foundation, San Joaquin Clean Energy Cluster, and the California Ag Leadership Foundation. CalCom Solar was at the forefront of educating and lobbying the California Public Utilities Commission, Farm Bureau, and Agriculture Energy Consumers Association, among others, on behalf of Net Metering Aggregation. We are committed to continuing our proactive advocacy and believe our on-going involvement ensures we will be well-positioned to deliver superior Net Metering Aggregation solutions to California Ag operations.
Net Metering Aggregation Net Metering Aggregation is a big win, allowing farmers to select the best location for solar. It drives down costs by sizing one system that can offset many expensive meters. Daniel Hartwig, Woolf Farming
Solar Array Well Pump Meter 1 Well Pump Meter 2 Well Pump Meter 3 With Net Metering Aggregation, Ag operations can connect multiple meters to a single, centralized solar power system, even if meters are on adjacent properties. Not only does this offer more freedom for system location minimizing crop displacement but enables flexible shifting of offsets as usage shifts. The net result is maximum solar ROI. Even if you priced solar power recently, you need to look again. Net Metering Aggregation dramatically changes the financial equation in your favor. The numbers below depict before and after scenarios for an Ag operation with multiple meters on different parcels. Without Net Metering Aggregation, solar power is a good investment. But with Net Metering Aggregation, there is an additional $2.5 million in lifetime savings. BEFORE Net Metering Aggregation AFTER Net Metering Aggregation $3 million total deployment cost $200,000 annual utility savings $2 million total deployment cost $300,000 annual utility savings DIFFERENCE / SAVINGS 2 $1 million deployment savings $2.5 million additional lifetime utility savings
FOCUS PROJECT CUSTOMER RA Sano Farms LOCATION Firebaugh, CA SIZE 1.15 MW DC TYPE Ground Mount Ballast System GENERATION Offsets 30% of customer s annual electricity use SOLUTION RA Sano Farms is a diversified grower of almonds, pistachios, and tomatoes. Solar was the ideal solution to offset the rising cost of electricity. In addition, as one of the first customers to take advantage of the Net Energy Metering Aggregation (NEMA) tariff with PG&E, they are able to shift solar offsets to different pumps and boosters as their allocation of surface water changes maximizing ROI. BENEFITS Reduces total operational costs and enables them to fix their electricity costs going forward Enables year-to-year operational flexibility Was able to locate system in an area of the operation that didn t involve removing trees or other high value crops (NEMA) Produces enough energy to replace burning 33 million pounds of coal over the 25-year expected life of the system
CalCom Solar made solar energy work for us. Metering Aggregation gave us the freedom to locate our solar array where we didn t have to remove trees or other high value crops. And it lets us to shift offsets to different pumps and boosters based on our allocation of surface water. We ll reduce total operational costs and fix our electricity costs going forward. Alan Sano, RA Sano Farms Trusted solar provider to leading Ag operations in the Central Valley With experience in solar power and energy mitigation extending back more than 35 years, the team members of CalCom Solar have a proven record of success with leading Ag operations throughout California and the Central Valley. A small sampling of their customer base includes: Dairy Dairy production, milk processing and chilling Bar VP Dairy, Pixley, CA Legacy Ranch Dairy, Pixley, CA Medeiros Dairy, Hanford, CA Growers Vegetables, herbs, and other row crops Banducci Farming, Bakersfield, CA RA Sano Farms, Firebaugh, CA Woolf Farming, Huron, CA Nuts Almonds, pistachios and tree nuts/orchards Anderson Orchards, Caruthers, CA Fabbri Ag Services, San Joaquin Valley, CA Pleasant Valley Pistachios, Fresno, CA Processing and Packing Vegetable, grain, wine and other processing Depue Rice, Maxwell, CA Golden State Vintners, Fresno, CA Los Gatos Tomato Products, Fresno, CA CalCom Solar is an experienced solar firm that designs and builds quality solar power systems. After the success of our first system, we just signed a contract for an additional 1 megawatt. They make it easy. Jim Anderson, Owner, Anderson Orchards
CALCOM SOLAR. END-TO-END CAPABILITIES TO DELIVER MAXIMUM ROI. As a Central Valley-based solar contractor, CalCom Solar is able to deliver the highestperforming solar energy systems. With our singular focus on Ag, we are expert at meeting your unique needs, delivering solar energy systems that minimize crop displacement, reduce operational risk/impact, and maximize ROI. ANALYSIS & FORECASTING In order for Ag customers to generate maximum solar ROI, precise forecasting of your energy usage is vital. Our proprietary SAGE (Solar Ag Energy) tool analyzes your hourly electricity usage and hourly demand charges against dozens of rate and tariff scenarios. It then weighs financial factors like tax breaks, depreciation and incentives, as well as operational variables such as water deliveries, pumping schedules, crop rotations, grove maturity, production schedules, harvest cycles, and much more to forecast the optimal solar power system for your Ag operations. DESIGN & ENGINEERING Our project teams have perfected a streamlined Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) process for Ag operations, based on our experience deploying hundreds of solar installations in California. This design and engineering expertise extends to Net Metering Aggregation projects, which require special planning to fully comply with Net Energy Metering Aggregation (NEMA) requirements. The net result: Expedited permitting Streamlined financing Optimized construction schedule CalCom Solar was a great fit for us. We are continually participate in PG&E s energy mitigation program and h
FINANCING & LEASING INSTALLATION & OPTIMIZATION OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE Leveraging our extensive financial partner network, CalCom Solar will help you meet the specific objectives you have for your Ag operations. Whether your goal is to maximize tax benefits, or provide for 100% positive cash flow, or minimize capital outlays (or any other scenario), we can help you identify the appropriate financial package that delivers the economic returns you need. This flexibility extends to leasing and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) that offer innovative paths to solar sustainability while dramatically reducing your energy expense. CalCom Solar team members offer unmatched expertise that comes from deploying over 100 megawatts of solar generating capacity in California. Our project teams draw upon the knowledge gained from building hundreds of solar power installations each year to streamline the construction and optimization process. And as a Tier 1 solar contractor, we are able to procure materials at marketleading price points. The benefit for you is on-time/on-budget deployment...with minimal impact to your ongoing operations. Our commitment to your project includes comprehensive warranty and maintenance services to ensure reliable, productive performance over the entire solar PV system life cycle. As a Tier 1 contractor, we source materials that offer the best warranties in the industry 25 years or more. We offer innovative, self-cleaning solution options to maintain peak solar power generation capacity. And our web-based 24/7 monitoring software makes it easy to see that your solar energy system is performing at peak efficiency. looking for ways to get more efficient, especially in the area of energy. We already ave seen great results from that. Adding solar to the mix was a natural next step. Brad Gleason, Owner, West Hills Farm Services, Inc./Pleasant Valley Pistachios, LLC
Y o u r C e n t r a l V a l l e y S o l a r E x p e r t s www.calcomsolar.com sales@calcomsolar.com 559.376.2070 CalCom Solar, Inc. 9716 W. Grove Ave. Visalia, CA 93291 1) Cumulative 25-year return for a 1.1 megawatt solar array (purchase price $2.35 million dollars) generating 2 million kilowatt hours (kwhs) annually at a cost of 12.5 /kwh, resulting in $250,000 annual savings (including all incentives and tax benefits) when compared to purchasing electricity from utility with average annual rate hikes of 3%, 2) Projected net economic gain over the minimum 25-year solar photovoltaic (PV) cell system lifecycle after a) savings from reduced electricity expense, b) utility offset/credits for solar power generation. Your return will vary depending on your individual circumstances.