Pacific Ethanol becomes first commercial ethanol plant to install solar power

In California, Pacific Ethanol, Inc. announced the completion of a 5-megawatt solar power system at its 40 million gallon capacity per year ethanol plant in Madera, California. The system is online and generating power. Initial operations are at 3.5 megawatts and will increase to 5 megawatts upon completion of PG&E upgrades to the adjacent substation, which are expected in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Neil Koehler, Pacific Ethanol’s president and CEO, stated: “We are very excited to be online generating electricity with solar power at our Madera, California facility. This is the first ever large-scale solar power system installed at an ethanol production plant in the United States. This system will lower our carbon score and is expected to reduce our utility costs by approximately $1 million annually when operating at full capacity.”