Major Solar Power System Installed at K-C Distribution Center

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Kimberly-Clark Corp (K-C), Dallas, Texas, USA, Prologis Inc., Denver, Colo., and Southern California Edison (SCE), Rosemead, Calif., reports that K-C’s Redlands, Calif. distribution center has received one of the largest single rooftop solar power installations in the country. Expanding on the 100 kw solar array installed in 2009, the 4.9 mw (DC), or 3.5 mw (AC), solar installation now covers 350,000 sq ft of roof space.

Renewable energy generated from the rooftop solar array will produce up to 6.6 million kw-hr of clean energy per year, will offset approximately 4,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, and provide enough electricity to power some 925 average Southern California homes a year.

Prologis owns the building, Prologis Park Redlands No. 5, and managed construction of the solar facility. The project was designed and financed by SCE, which will own the solar installation and use the power to serve customers in the community. K-C is the building's sole tenant and receives power from the original 100–kw solar installation.

"Kimberly-Clark's commitment to sustainability includes finding more ways to promote the use of renewable energy, including utilizing available rooftop space," said Suhas Apte, K-C’s VP, Global Sustainability.

Built in 2005, Prologis Park Redlands No. 5 is a 700,000-sq ft facility that has been occupied by K-C since 2007. The company uses the distribution center to supply its full line of consumer products — including Kleenex, Huggies, Scott, Depend, and Kotex — to retailers around the country.