Ventura County Star
By Stephanie Hoops

Limoneira is unveiling its "solar orchard" today, a 5.5-acre power-generating system that will reduce the Santa Paula ag company's electricity costs by about one-third.

Limoneira's electricity rate will be fixed at 9 cents a kilowatt for the next 20 years, compared with the current cost of 13 cents a kilowatt.

"We anticipate significant cost increases over time," said Limoneira President and Chief Executive Officer Harold Edwards. "We just don't know how much energy is going to inflate over time, but the savings will be significant."

Limoneira officials realized it would be a big money saver for their Santa Paula operations about two years ago during an annual exercise of exploring sustainability ideas that would benefit shareholders and the environment.

"The shareholders are delighted," Edwards said. "It's very consistent with our mission statement."

The system cost about $8 million, Edwards said.

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