Labcon Flips the Switch to Solar

Labcon ceremonially flipped the switch on the company's new 800 kilowatt solar array that went operational in May.

Assemblyman and congressional candidate, Jared Huffman was on hand to congratulate the company for its investment in solar power.

Huffman pointed to the coordinated effort with federal government grants, state incentives administered by PG&E and the private sector to provide financing.

"It's a great example of what we get when we set an environmental policy and how it comes together," said Huffman.

The 2,500 solar panels cover half of Labcon's 125,000 square foot building, cost $3.3 milllion to complete and contributes 30 percent of the manufacturing company's energy needs.

"We're make products that help treat disease," said Jim Happ, president. "Now we're making clean energy...I'm really proud of what we've done."

According to PG&E representatives on hand, the company will save one million killowatts annually. As part of the California Solar Initiative incentive program, Labcon was presented with a check for $835,784.

Happ said that the new panels will reduce the company's monthly electric bill by 13 percent and that he could envision a second and third phase of solar energy upgrades that would each contribute 30 percent more energy. "In the next ten years, we could be a 100 percent solar."

Labcon North America is a manufacturer of laboratory disposable products. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the privately-held Helena Laboratories of Beaumont, Texas. The Petaluma facility employs approximately 250.