If only Mr. Green could be photographed with Congressman Barry Frank at a solar installation. That would move the pps!
Matouk & Co. unveils 84 kilo-watt solar system
Photo by/Beth Perdue Fall River-based Matouk unveiled its new solar powered energy system at an April 6 event that included: (l-r) Fall River Mayor William Flanagan, company president George Matouk Jr., and U.S. Congressman Barney Frank. By By Beth Perdue Bulletin editor April 23, 2010 5:22 PM
FALL RIVER, Mass. — A Fall River linen manufacturer celebrated its new solar powered energy system last month, touting the system as a solution to both environmental challenges and rising business costs.
John Matouk & Co., which manufactures high-end bed and bath linens, installed an 84 kilo-watt solar powered system, the largest solar installation in Southeastern Massachusetts, on the roof of its Fall River manufacturing plant.
The system, designed and installed by Lowell-based Borrego Solar Systems, began producing energy in January.
George Matouk Jr., the company's CEO, decided to go solar when the company was retrofitting its roof and learned that the large south-facing roof-top was perfect for a solar system.
The system will generate about 35 percent of the power needed to run the factory, Matouk said, and, with government incentives, will pay for itself in about five to six years.
"From then on, the energy we use will be free of charge," he said.
At the April 6 official unveiling of the system, U.S. Congressman Barney Frank, Fall River Mayor William Flanagan, and representatives Michael Rodrigues and David Sullivan were present in support of the project. In his comments, Flanagan called Matouk a leader in clean energy and praised the company for its commitment to the local economy.
Making the switch to solar helps keep Matouk employees working and therefore keeps the city's unemployment rate down, Flanagan said, adding, "To use clean energy and renewable energy to power your plant makes a commitment to the community and to the state."
Matouk's solar system will reduce carbon emissions by 176,022 lbs of CO2 annually, according to a company statement. This is equivalent to the emissions from an average passenger car driving 336,373 miles every year for 30 years, and the CO2 that would be removed by planting 70 acres of trees. The system will also reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 15,300 pounds over the life of the system.
According to Matouk, partial financing for the system, about $300,000, is coming from the Commonwealth Solar Program.
"I just witnessed a decent sized rooftop solar installation that took just a few days on and old mill building in Fall River Mass. A large crane was on on site to get everything to the roof. If these installations are so quick why aren't we hearing about CSKH's? Why isn't CSKH's website chock full of installations?"
IMO, it's due to a lack of competence and/or ambition.
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