Dec 14, 2007 9:04 AM

United Natural Foods Inc, along with Solar Works Inc and the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), held a dedication ceremony December 13 for the installation of the largest solar electric system in New England.

The 550-kilowatt STC solar photovoltaic system from SCHOTT Solar, installed at the company’s distribution facility in Dayville CT, is expected to generate about 600,000 kilowatt hours of clean energy annually, enough to power more than 67 average New England homes for one year. The system output will avoid more than 14 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the 25-year life of the system.

Guests at the event included Donald E Williams Jr, Connecticut state senator; John Hollay, from the office of US Rep Joseph D Courtney; and Jeffrey Nelson, director of the Eastern Office for Gov M Jodi Rell. Also in attendance were representatives from Solar Works, CCEF, and United Natural.

The Dayville distribution facility serves as both United Natural’s corporate headquarters and regional distribution center in its nationwide distribution network. This facility employs more than 500 people and serves both the New England and New York areas. With the largest warehouse capacity of any distributor in the natural products industry, United Natural has more than 5.4 million square feet of space at 21 distribution centers nationwide.