Lancaster County, Pa., known for its rich agricultural heritage, is increasingly being recognized for sustainability with businesses like Messick’s Farm Equipment leading the charge towards renewable energy. Messick’s headquarters in Rapho Township, Pa., now has over 2,200 solar panels that cover the roof. The addition has a 1.07-megawatt capacity, which ranks in the top 10 of the largest solar arrays located in Lancaster County, according to LNP LancasterOnline.
The decision to embrace solar energy was supported by financial and environmental factors. Messick’s foresees a potential reduction of up to 90% in annual electric expenses, according to LNP LancasterOnline .Using solar energy for the headquarters offsets the environmental footprint from other parts of the business, like its fleet of service trucks.
“We can’t replace what’s happening on the road, but we can offset it here,” says Kevin Messick, corporate administrator at Messick’s Farm Equipment.
After months of planning and installation, PPL Electric Utilities gave final approval for the solar arrays in May. By June, Messick’s had already seen a 30% decrease in its monthly electricity bill, a trend they plan to reduce to 10% of last year’s bill in July.