Poyant Signs, one of the largest sign manufacturing and branding specialist in New England, tapped Beaumont Solar to design and construct a 330-kWdc solar array on the rooftop of its 50,000 sq. ft. company headquarters in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
The entire Poyant family gathered to celebrate making their dream of using solar energy a reality. Photo Courtesy of Marty Higgins Photography
“Solar power had been something we were considering for our business,” said Richard Poyant, president and owner. “As a family philosophy, we are constantly updating our manufacturing processes to be environmentally friendly where possible, and more of our customers require this of their vendors as well.”
The facility will be able to generate 100% of its energy needs on site. The new solar system also has built-in excess capacity to handle future growth in their electric demand.
“This project has been 10 years in the making with many family discussions on how our company could embrace significant recycling and renewable energy in a financially feasible manner,” said Poyant. “My son Andrew has been a driving force on this project. As a Wetland Scientist for CDM Smith, he has a strong sense of environmental stewardship and is continuously challenging our company to the next level. He reminds us of our responsibility to make a positive contribution to preserving and improving our environment for future generations.
“From our first meeting, Beaumont explained all aspects of solar for us. Throughout construction they hit all their marks in a timely manner and made sure we were in sync with the utility and all our documents. It was pretty much a turnkey solution for us.”
Ironically, Poyant and Beaumont Solar share an 80-year history together, first as cross-town rivals when Beaumont Solar was also the Beaumont Sign company dating back to 1918. The two companies often competed for projects head-to-head. When Beaumont decided to focus on renewable energy full time, it was Poyant that acquired the Beaumont Sign business. Knowing Beaumont shared the same commitment to quality and excellence in how they conduct their business, Poyant was confident Beaumont Solar was the right company to partner with in their decision to move forward with solar energy.
“It was a highly coordinated effort between our two companies, and Richard and his staff were topflight partners on this project,” said Phil Cavallo, president and CEO of Beaumont Solar. “Poyant Signs is another great example of a thriving New Bedford company, a staple in our community for many years, using local people in their work force.”
In fact, it was a team effort all-around with the New Bedford Economic Council, the City of New Bedford Conservation Commission and the Beaumont Solar staff of electricians from Local IBEW 223 all working together in a go-forward manner to ensure the system was commissioned before the end of 2016.
“We have installed several commercial solar arrays on rooftops here in the business park this year and more currently underway. The economics of solar make sense when you consider the cost of energy over the long term,” Cavallo said. “Businesses like Poyant Signs stay in business year after year by making sound business decisions, and solar is one of those sound decisions.”
News item from Beaumont Solar