Snyder’s of Hanover will begin construction on a solar farm that will be the largest ground-based solar energy system in Pennsylvania, with more than 16,000 panels spanning 20 acres.
After gaining approval from the Penn Township Planning and Zoning Board to build the solar farm, Snyder’s of Hanover plans to begin construction in November. The solar farm will be built on the field across Route 116 from the plant and corporate headquarters.
“We’re incredibly eager to take the next step in reducing our carbon footprint. This is an exciting event for our company, community and environment,” said Jim Butt, vice president of technical services at Snyder’s of Hanover and project manager for the solar project.
The solar farm will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in excess of 230 million pounds of carbon dioxide over a 25-year period. As a comparison, the energy created from the solar field equals more than 111 million miles not driven by a medium-sized car and more than 11 million trees would need to be planted to equal the same level of carbon dioxide reduction.
“We are always looking for ways to be a greener and environmentally friendly company and the solar farm is an important step. The solar field joins other Snyder’s of Hanover sustainability initiatives, including compostable packaging, and takes the company one step closer to achieving our five-year sustainability goals established last year. It demonstrates that we can still be passionate about pretzels and better-for-you snack foods while caring for our environment,” said Carl E. Lee, Jr., president and CEO of Snyder’s of Hanover.
The global leader in pretzels and the nation’s second-largest snack food company, Snyder’s of Hanover was founded in 1909 and is a privately held company that employs more than 2,250 associates and operates nearly 1,900 distribution routes nationwide.
Snyder’s is headquartered in Hanover, Pa., also the location of its flagship snack food manufacturing and distribution center where products are produced and distributed to the eastern half of North America, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Europe. The Goodyear, Ariz., plant produces products for the Western half of the United States and Pacific Rim countries. The Jeffersonville, Indiana “Krunchers!” plant produces and distributes Krunchers!kettle potato chips, Jays potato chips, and Grandetortilla chip products primarily for the Midwest, Central, and Eastern United States.
Simulated photo of a section of Snyder’s of Hanover’s ground-based solar farm. The project begins construction this month and is slated for completion in March 2011. When completed, the 16,000 solar panel farm will be enclosed by fencing and landscaping. (PRNewsFoto/Snyder’s of Hanover)
