Family-owned pork producer The Maschhoffs broke ground on a 3.06 MW solar array at its main feed facility, the Griggsville Feed Mill in Illinois.
At the facility, the firm processes 300,000 tons of feed, which represents about 25% of the 1.4 million market hogs and feeder pigs raised annually. Gerry Daignault, the Vice President of Support Operations, said it is the firm’s most energy intensive operations.
“Our grain operations are critical to animal care, overall health and pork production. Energy availability and resilience are critical,” he said. “Any interruption in power or loss of heat can alter the chemistry of our feed, which in turn impacts the growth of our animals and profitability of the business. Adding solar to our energy equation allows us to continue to optimize our grain processing and get the best feed to our animals without the stress of higher energy costs.”
Solential Energy will design, build and commission the solar project. A total of 6,800 ground-mounted, fixed-tilt solar panels will be installed on the 11-acre site. Construction will begin immediately and the array is expected to begin generating power by October this year.
The Maschhoffs expect energy savings of $320,000 in the first year and accumulated savings of more than $11.3 million in 25 years.
Energy costs have severely impacted the state’s $1.1 billion pork producing industry, Ken Maschoff, chairman of the company, said that adopting solar energy to offset rising energy bills from the grid is strategically necessary.
