Miller Recycling Solar Panel Work Underway

Miller Recycling Corporation has taken the first steps in installing a 300kW roof mounted solar array at their Mansfield facility. The system will generate enough electricity to power 30 average homes, and will be utilized by the facility to offset 90% of its own traditional energy needs. The system will annually eliminate over a half million pounds of carbon dioxide, equivalent to removing over 70 cars from the road.

Randy Miller, president of the 70-year-old company, says “we have always strived to minimize our carbon footprint by instilling processes that emphasized efficiency and sustainability. Several years ago we upgraded our facility lighting, reducing our energy consumption by over 15%; solar is the next logical progression of that philosophy. The recycling industry does not have strict guidelines for sustainability so we choose to be a leader in that realm of our business.”

It is also an opportune time for Miller Recycling to choose solar power. The cost to install solar on a commercial scale has dropped as much as 40% over the past five years, and several state and federal incentives have also decreased the capital cost of installing a system.

“While the sustainability component of this project is important to us, the financials have to work in our favor as well,” says Mr. Miller.

Installation of the solar array began in early April, with the completion date scheduled for June of 2012. Miller Recycling also plans to install web-based monitoring software, allowing the public to view current and total solar power generation, as well as environmental benefits such as carbon offset by the system.