Solar Energy is “M’m! M’m! Good!”

At least, Campbell’s Soup USA (creator of the slogan above) must think so, because they are adding a solar power system to their facility in Napoleon, Ohio.

The solar array will provide about 15 percent of the plant’s energy needs, and allow Campbell’s to save $4 million in energy costs, based on U.S. Department of Energy projections regarding the cost of future electricity in this area of Ohio.

It will also prevent about 10,557 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is the same as taking more than 2,000 cars off American roads, or planting about 270,692 seedlings and letting them grow for a decade.

The State of Ohio has already issued $10.5 million in bonds to help finance the project, which will create more than 200 temporary construction jobs in Ohio.

The system comes courtesy of BNB Napoleon Solar LLC, a local firm which has contracted to build the 9.8-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) solar array from 24,000 SunPower panels on 24 acres alongside Campbell’s largest plant (out of 11 production facilities across the United States and Canada).

The solar array will be operated under a power purchase agreement (PPA) and a land lease agreement with BNB – a wholly owned subsidiary of BNB Energy Holdings of Exton, Pennsylvania – owning the system, taking responsibility for every phase from financing to operation, and selling all of the power back to Campbell’s over the next 20 years. BNB Energy Holdings also owns Hudson Solar Renewable Energy.