Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/619725
January 2016 WINES&VINES 115 CONSTRUCTION "marine environment" exclusion), the challenging access for clean- ing and maintenance, the safety risks of servicing with all that water around them, the potential challenge of having to keep the pond full otherwise the panels might crash together, and the fact that the guys who did Far Niente's project—SPG Solar—are out of business suggest we won't be see- ing too many of these in the future." Erlichman thinks that a better solution is installing the arrays on the pond berm, as his company did at Trefethen in 2007, and/or pole-top arrays at the end of vine rows, like those it installed at Keenan in 2006. He added, "Though this is her- esy and we never suggest it, quite a number of wineries have volun- teered weak-performing portions of their vineyards for arrays, and we've done the math with winery CFOs. It can be better economics for making electricity than grow- ing grapes. We've done quite a number of such projects." Erlichman is also working with the Napa Department of Planning, Building and Environ- mental Services on developing standards and updating the codes to allow solar panels on septic fields. "Having done three of these (Frog's Leap in 2004, Sta- glin in 2007 and Cliff Lede in 2011), we've learned a lot about what works and how to address the county's genuine concerns about how to use a septic field for solar and ensuring that it doesn't interfere with the operation of the septic system. Napa expects to update the codes in the spring of next year," he said. The panels, all installed on the winery building roof, face northwest. There are eight inverters, and they all feed to one meter. The winery is on time-of-use rates with Pacific Gas & Electric, so it pays more for electricity from the grid at peak hours like the afternoon. Before going solar, Phelps made major renovations to bring the build- ing into the 21st century, and it installed energy-efficient lighting. The estimated return on investment for this system is nine years. Based on information from carbonify.com, the 1,104 panels (above) should offset 532,620 pounds of carbon dioxide, 1,482 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 780 pounds of nitrogen oxides. This is the equiva- lent of planting 1,329 fast-growing trees in a rain forest. The panels will offset 50% of the winery's overall electrical costs and serve as an important step toward producing 100% clean-energy wine.