SolarCraft Completes Largest Agricultural Solar Energy System in California

Business Wire, May 24, 2007

Paramount Farms is Nuts about Solar

NOVATO, Calif. -- SolarCraft announced today that is has completed installation and commissioned a 1.1 Megawatt solar energy system at Paramount Farms, Inc., the world's largest vertically integrated supplier of pistachios and almonds, at their Lost Hills, CA orchards and processing facility.

The system utilizes ground-mounted, Uni-Solar([R])Amorphous Thin Film Photovoltaic (PV) panels. Spanning 8 acres, it is one of the largest single-site, privately-owned solar energy systems in the U.S.

The solar system enables Paramount Farms to generate enough clean electricity each day to power 300 average homes. The new system will spare the air nearly 2,600 tons of harmful greenhouse gases annually. Over the next 30 years, the air pollution saved will be equivalent to driving over 176 million miles. The system will pay for itself in approximately 6 years.

"Paramount Farms, a leader in the farming community, is committed to a balanced green strategy, one that utilizes clean energy to reduce costs and improve efficiency," said Dave Szeflin, vice president, operations, Paramount Farms. "Today we're pleased to break ground on the first phase of a long-term, comprehensive, solar-power initiative."

"We are very pleased to have been selected for this job," says Chris Bunas, VP of SolarCraft. "With rising energy costs, smart companies like Paramount Farms are now looking for ways to reduce and set their facility operations expenses for the long term. With 25 year warranties and 40+ year design life on the major system components, this system will be positively affecting Paramount's bottom line for many years to come."

SolarCraft was selected to design and install the project because of the company's reputation and over two decades of longevity in the marketplace, as well as for their groundbreaking design.

Bill Stewart, President of SolarCraft noted, "Solar Electric and Agriculture are a natural fit. Both convert available solar energy into a commodity. By installing this large solar generating facility, Paramount Farms continues to lead the way in the Central Valley farming community's trend toward sustainability. SolarCraft is very proud to have been chosen to be a part of that effort."

About Paramount Farms

Paramount Farms, a company with a long established history building successful produce brands including Sunkist[R] California Pistachios, a top seller; and Sunkist[R] Almond Accents[R], the leading flavored, sliced almond topping. Their 28,000 acres of pistachio orchards are the largest in the Western Hemisphere. And in a state famous for its almonds, they are proud to be California's largest almond grower, with more than 24,000 acres of permanent almond orchards. That's more than four million trees producing in excess of 30 billion nuts annually.

SolarCraft is one of the most experienced solar energy contractors and retailer in California. For more than 23 years the certified "Green Business" has been providing Solar Thermal and Solar Electric services including consulting, design, sales, installation and maintenance. SolarCraft has installed more than 4,000 solar energy systems in California that account for over a million square feet of solar energy collectors, saving customers $6.5 million and eliminating more than 24,000 tons of greenhouse gasses annually.