Krasdale Foods plans to add a solar power system to the roof of its Hunts Point warehouse, which the grocery wholesaler described as the largest solar project in the New York City borough of the Bronx.
White Plains, N.Y.-based Krasdale said Tuesday that PowerFlex, a national provider of renewable energy infrastructure, will install more than 6,500 panels at the 325,000-square-foot distribution center. The 2.7-megawatt system will generate clean energy equivalent to offsetting 5.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide or removing 524 automobiles from the road annually.
PowerFlex expects the installation to take about nine months, with the project wrapping up next year, according to Krasdale. As part of an agreement with the New York City Economic Development Corp. (NYCEDC), the lease administrator on behalf of the city, Krasdale will have the opportunity to extend its current lease through 2041.
“After nearly a half century in Hunts Point, we’re thrilled to be able to support our community by creating a greener New York,” Krasdale President Gus Lebiak said in a statement. “Our focus has always been on giving back to the communities we serve, and this project represents our continuing commitment to the Bronx. We want to thank the City of New York and PowerFlex for partnering with us on this initiative.”
Designated as a community solar project, the Krasdale system will be able to share the clean energy produced with residents in the same utility area. The company said about 300 residents are expected to qualify for the no-cost option, which will cut their electric bills by 10%.
“New York City is closer to achieving its energy goals with Krasdale’s new solar installation at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center,” NYCEDC President and CEO Rachel Loeb stated. “This project will improve air quality for New Yorkers and contribute to a cleaner, more resilient electricity grid. We look forward to advancing additional sustainability projects at the food distribution center and delivering much-needed benefits to the Hunts Point community.”
Comprised of more than 155 public and private wholesalers, the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center distributes about 4.5 billion pounds of food annually, making it the largest single-entry point for the over 19 billion pounds of food consumed each year by New York City. Krasdale, founded in 1908, noted that it has operated out of the same Bronx warehouse since the early 1970s and was one of the first businesses that the city recruited for the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center.
“We are proud to partner with Krasdale on this notable solar project that will directly benefit its surrounding community,” commented Kevin Purdy, business development director at San Diego-based PowerFlex, which has a New York City office and has provided solar solutions to Amazon, PepsiCo, Target and other large companies. “It’s one of the largest projects PowerFlex has worked on in New York City to date, and through this initiative, Krasdale demonstrates its ongoing commitment to operate as a socially and environmentally responsible company.”
Krasdale supplies more than 300 independent supermarkets in the Northeast and Florida, mainly in metropolitan New York. Store banners it serves include C-Town, Bravo, Aim and Market Fresh supermarkets; mini-groceries Shop Smart Food Markets and Stop 1 Food Mart; and a host of delis, drugstores, convenience stores and other independent retailers selling food and groceries, reaching around 2,500 retailers overall. The company’s subsidiaries also provide retailer marketing, merchandising and financial services as well as third-party grocery distribution and frozen and refrigerated food distribution.