Coldspring Company News Release
Coldspring Company News Release:
From: Winkelman Solar Developers of Brainerd, MN
June 1, 2020 For Immediate release:
Contact David Winkelman 218 820 3736, winkelmansolar@gmail.com
The Coldspring Company of Cold Spring, MN has installed a one-megawatt (mW) AC solar array on the ground next to their award-winning Granite West business center. The solar array spans about 7 acres and produces enough electricity to power an average of 180 homes in MN, annually. The solar modules are made by a world solar leader, JinKO Solar, and have the most secure warranty in the solar industry. Coldspring Company turned the power on from the solar array in 2019, and it is guaranteed to produce an average of 1,486,800 per year for the next 25 years. It is one of the largest commercial solar installations in the state.
Coldspring Company (CC) is not new to sustainable energy and environmentally responsible operations. Developing and maintaining a sustainable operation is a CC core value that not only affects how they do business, but also shapes their corporate culture. Building on a long-standing commitment to establishing and promoting industry-wide best practices that treat the source of their products (the earth) with respect, CC is dedicated to developing and maintaining resource management and processing practices that minimize their impact on the environment. Coldspring Company strives to be the world’s most environmentally responsible stone producer and solar is their newest method to achieve this goal.
All the power from the solar array will be used by CC on site. Their award-winning 22,500-square-foot campus facility, designed and constructed following the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, is designed to increase productivity and make for a more energy efficient and integrated operations. The new corporate headquarters houses approximately 150 people and is one of seven buildings on the 435-acre site. CC uses much more electricity on the campus than this new array produces, but the solar will help reduce their environmental impact significantly.
To get an idea of how much power this one mW array produces, according to the much-respected energy calculator from the US EPA, its 25 year production of 37,170,000 kilowatt hours is equal to over 64 million miles driven by an average passenger car. It is also equal to 28,735,228 pounds of coal not being burned. That reduces the carbon dioxide in the air by 26,285 metric tons! That is equal to 434,625 trees absorbing carbon for 10 years! How long will solar panels last? Decades longer than their 25-year warranty, as they have in outer space.
Here are some other pollution reduction facts about CC operations:
• CC reused materials from their old former office, as well as integration of local materials from around the Coldspring area, along with other low-impact materials.
• Nearly half of building materials used were extracted, processed and manufactured within 500 miles of the facility, reducing the environmental impact from ground transportation.
• A bike rack and shower/changing room to promote alternative transportation. Preferred parking for electric/fuel-efficient vehicles and car/van pool parking is also available.
• Healthy indoor air quality through close control of the building’s heating and cooling, including adequate ventilation and proper filtration.
• Expansive use of natural light and minimal water consumption through low-flush toilets and reduced flow faucets.
• Stormwater retention ponds to control runoff and recharge area groundwater.
Some people think that mining is a polluting business, but CC is here to change that picture. Stone is a natural resource. However, depending on how it is quarried, processed, transported and used has a significant bearing on the environmental impact for any particular use. Likewise, their foundry and other non-stone operations also benefit from sustainable practices that maximize the utilization of our resources while minimizing energy use.
David Winkelman was the initial developer of the Coldspring Company solar project. For more details, please contact David Winkelman, see above.
For more information – info@winkelmansolar.com
