Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/619725
114 WINES&VINES January 2016 CONSTRUCTION noma County Water Agency is contacting wineries to sell them floating solar panels. "These will not be installed by the end of the incentives, but that hasn't stopped Gallo, Coppola, Kunde and a few others from exploring it," said Gulbransen of Westcoast Solar Energy. Dale Roberts, principal engi- neer for the Sonoma County Water Agency, said that the agency sent out a request for proposals on behalf of Sonoma Clean Power for solar developers to develop floating solar photovoltaic sys- tems atop agricultural ponds. "This RFP (request for pro- posal) was sent out because the Water Agency and Sonoma Clean Power received proposals about one year ago with favorable power pricing for a similar RFP inviting proposals to develop 12 mW of floating solar PV atop water agency recycled water storage ponds. As a community that val- ues open space and agricultural land, the surface of ponds is an underutilized asset. Floating solar projects help deploy renewable energy on otherwise unusable acreage. Once proposals are re- ceived, the water agency will turn the proposals over to the ag pond owners (mostly wineries), so they can begin discussions/negotia- tions with the proposers to de- velop their own floating solar PV projects." However, Erlichman of Sun- lightElectric said that floating solar power may be unwise. "I believe there's a few good reasons Far Niente is the one and only floating solar power system at a winery. The voiding of the panel manufacturer's warranty (the N apa Valley's Joseph Phelps Vineyards provided details about how it is working to produce energy-neutral wines. The com- pany is significantly reducing its carbon footprint with 298 kW of solar panels on the rooftop of its winemaking facility. The panels produce 475,100 kWh per year, effectively reducing winery electrical operations costs to zero. "This development is part of the winery's long-term commitment to sustainability," said Bill Phelps, president of Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Phelps hired California Blue Sky Utilities, a renewable-energy developer providing custom solar solutions, and BPi, a leading EPC contractor of solar energy installation, for this project. Installation of the panels began in spring 2015, and they became operational in September 2015. Joseph Phelps bought the systems. JOSEPH PHELPS' SOLAR CASE HISTORY