SARANAC, Mich. — Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch in Saranac is installing a solar array at its Green Meadow Organics facility, according to a news release Monday.
Spread over eight acres, the solar array will produce enough electricity to meet about a quarter of the power demand for the facility, which produces organic, cage-free eggs and all-natural fertilizers.
“The solar project aims to lessen our impact on the environment by cutting down on our fossil fuel usage,” said Cody Herbruck, senior manager of capital expenses at Herbruck’s. “We are excited to be able to source our own energy in a sustainable way and bring this green energy to a rural area in Michigan.”
The ranch is partnering with ES Services Company, a subsidiary of CMS Energy, for the project.
“We’re excited to help Herbruck’s advance its sustainability efforts, which are good for business, good for Michigan and good for the planet,” said DV Rao, CMS Energy’s senior vice president of strategy. “We look forward to exploring additional ways we can assist Herbruck’s as we all move toward a cleaner energy future.”
Herbruck’s is also assessing using solar power at its other facilities as part of larger sustainability efforts, which include using bird litter to make fertilizer, repurposing eggshells into feed as a calcium source, responsible waste disposal and wastewater management practices and using environmentally friendly product packaging, among other efforts.
The solar array at Green Meadow Organics is expected to start operations in the fall.
