November 1, 2012

Solar power fuels home, store on Valencia farm

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

T. Lyle Ferderber of Frankferd Farms in Valencia has been harvesting grains such as corn, oats, and barley for more than 30 years.  Recently he has taken to harvesting another crop — sunshine.

On the roof of his 100-year-old barn in Butler County, Mr. Ferderber has installed a 10-kilowatt solar array of 44 panels that can generate 230 watts of electricity each.  He has installed a 16-kilowatt capacity solar array on the roof of his food warehouse store on Saxonburg Boulevard where he sells a variety of organic, bulk and specialty foods.
 
The two systems may be good for the environment, generating pollution-free power to help run his business, but Mr. Ferderber looks at solar energy in a more practical way.
 

 
 

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