Acquisition is expected to
put Western North Carolina on the map as the sustainability capital of the United
States, with the new company's immediate focus to own and operate $14 million
worth of solar installations in the state.
Clean energy developer Appalachian Solar Energy has been
acquired by Vanir Energy LLC. The purchase means nearly $14 million will be
invested in solar thermal technology projects throughout North Carolina in
2009, where Vanir Energy will own and operate the solar thermal systems it
installs, allowing its customers to go solar without making capital
expenditures.
Vanir Energy will be headquartered in
Fletcher, N.C., and staffed by the former personnel of Appalachian Solar Energy
with support from Vanir management in Sacramento, Calif. Executive Vice
PresidentScott Clarksaid the first Vanir project will be a
solar thermal installation at Fletcher Business Park, a 900,000-square-foot
facility where the company is headquartered.
"With the
Fletcher Business Park project, we're creating 58 jobs in less than 60
days," Clark said. The business park will be the largest installation of
solar thermal heating and cooling technology in the world, according to the
International Energy Agency.* The 640 panels will produce 1.5 megawatts of
power. Vanir Energy will own and operate the system at no capital expenditure
to Fletcher Business Park, a model the company plans to repeat across the
state.
* Note: Fletcher Business Park will be the largest
installation of solar thermal heating and cooling technology in the world,
according to a database maintained by the Solar Heating and Cooling Program of
the Paris-based International Energy Agency.
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