A 115-year-old family-owned grocery distribution, merchandising and marketing company based in the Bronx has added a 2.7 MW community solar system to its roof. Krasdale Foods partnered with solar provider PowerFlex to develop the largest solar energy installation in the borough and one of the largest in New York City.
A ribbon cutting celebration held at Krasdale’s distribution center in Hunts Point was attended by Bronx Borough president Vanessa Gibson, assemblymember Amanda Septimo, and others.
“For decades, large trucks have regularly driven in and out of the Hunts Point food distribution center, pumping pollution into the air and highlighting the need for clean energy in the area,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Krasdale Foods is stepping up to offset those emissions and power up solar energy in Hunts Point with the Bronx’s largest solar power installation. I want to thank Krasdale Foods and PowerFlex for doing their part in the fight against climate change and for helping to bring sustainable living to our city.”
Krasdale’s community solar project will share its environmental and financial benefits with the local community. Residents of the Bronx can subscribe to the project and receive credits on their electricity bill for a portion of the solar energy generated. The program will help approximately 300 Bronx residents reduce their electric bills. Community solar enables access to clean, renewable energy for homeowners, renters, and business owners who may not have ideal conditions to directly install solar panels onsite.
“We are proud to partner with PowerFlex on this monumental community solar project,” said Gus Lebiak, Krasdale’s president and COO. “Krasdale continues our mission of helping the communities we serve, and this new solar roof is a commitment to clean energy for the Bronx, its residents, and Krasdale employees.”
The system will generate an estimated 3.4 GWh of solar energy per year, avoiding the carbon emissions equivalent to fully powering more than 300 U.S. homes annually.
“It’s rewarding to work with Krasdale on this large onsite community solar project that will generate a significant amount of renewable energy and help the company achieve its sustainability goals,” said Raphael Declercq, CEO of PowerFlex. “This community solar system will harness the clean energy of the sun to power Krasdale’s operations, as well as hundreds of families in the Bronx. This notable project demonstrates that, together, we can achieve a cleaner, greener future.”
PowerFlex received more than $1.3 million in support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) through its NY-Sun Program, which is helping make solar more accessible to families, businesses, and communities across the state. Since its inception, solar in New York has grown over 3,000%, leveraged nearly $7.3 billion in private investments, and decreased in cost by 73%. Currently, installed distributed solar projects, combined with the projects that are under development, bring the state to 95% of the current Climate Act goal to install six gigawatts of distributed solar by 2025.
“New York’s position as the nation’s top community solar market would not be possible without strong private-public partnerships with companies like Krasdale Foods and PowerFlex,” said Doreen M. Harris, NYSERDA president and CEO. “Through our shared investments, together we are not only making clean energy more accessible in communities like the Bronx, we are also advancing our climate goals while setting an example for other states to follow.”
Video footage of the solar system is available here.
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