Grenzebach Corporation’s Newnan manufacturing plant is now partially powered by solar energy after the company signed a 25-year agreement with Atlanta-based Cherry Street Energy.
The $400,000 solar power system, which was recently energized, is owned and operated by Cherry Street Energy. Under the agreement, Grenzebach will purchase the electricity produced on-site for the next 25 years.
Company officials said the system will offset about 30 percent of the facility’s daytime energy use — roughly the equivalent of powering 30 homes each year — while cutting more than 170 metric tons of emissions annually.
“For us, sustainability is not a buzzword — it’s a responsibility we embrace,” said John Fluker, CEO of Grenzebach Corporation. “This agreement reflects our long-term commitment to reducing emissions, driving innovation and shaping a future where clean energy supports reliable operations.”
Cherry Street Energy financed and built the 378-panel system and will maintain it over the life of the agreement.
“Large energy users in Georgia face a balancing act of maintaining reliable operations and managing energy spend,” said Michael Chanin, CEO of Cherry Street Energy. “Our customers have taken the innovative approach of adding solar power to their energy mix.”
Grenzebach, headquartered in Newnan, is part of the multinational Grenzebach Group, a global leader in industrial automation solutions for the glass and building materials industries. The company employs about 120 people at its Coweta County facility.
Cherry Street Energy, based in Atlanta, is the Southeast’s largest provider of on-site solar power, with clients ranging from Porsche and Delta Air Lines to the City of Atlanta and Fulton County.
