Governor Bill Ritter and a dog named Dealer led a rooftop solar dedication ceremony yesterday

May 15, 6:28 PMDenver Sustainable City ExaminerSusanna Speier

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Yesterday, Governor Bill Ritter and a dog named Dealer led a dedication ceremony on the roof of Purina’s Denver plant to inaugurate the pilot solar energy array installed by REC Solar.  After racing down the aisle with the newly cut green ribbon still hanging out of his mouth, Dealer, the trained Border Collie, trotted back over to the Governor for a congratulatory hand/paw shake.  The suit and cowboy boot clad Governor lauded this landmark achievement as "the story of the New Energy Economy."

The 467-panel photovoltaic (PV) system, now covering 21,000 square feet of the facility roof marks the state's largest privately owned solar array.  Although the panels will only cut the plant's electrical use by 1%, the savings is enormous, given the plant's total energy output.  If Xcel Energy, were to generate the electrical equivalent of the those 467 solar panels, it would require nearly 300,000 pounds of carbon dioxide over a year ---an amount equivalent to the carbon dioxide emission of 23 cars over that same amount of time.  Xcel Energy was, in fact, also present at the ceremony.  They had worked closely with Nestle Purina and with REC Solar throughout the development process to ensure the pilot solar system fit the plant's infrastructure.  

To celebrate the launch, Nestle Purina also donated more than 30 tons of Purina Dog Chow and Purina Cat Chow to the Metro Denver Shelter Alliance, which has 23 affiliate members comprised of animal welfare organizations and support groups.  The company's efforts to position themselves as a green pet food company over the last five years years also included the installation of a compressed air and steam system and lighting and boiler upgrades. 

REC Solar's poised and tawny Regional Manager, Cary Hayes, seems pleased with the fact that his expertise now includes the reduction of "carbon footprints---or pawprints."  Nestle Purina is now evaluating the feasibility of adding their next solar array to their Flagstaff, Arizona plant.  In other words, Dealer better keep his teeth sharp.  He next green ribbon cutting gig might be coming up soon.

If you liked this story and would like to read more about Denver Solar Panel inspiring ceremonies, click here to read this author's article about Obama's Stimulus Bill signing at the Museum of Nature and Science.