Smiths distribution center cuts ribbon on state's second-largest solar array.

• Author: Christensen, Lisa
• Position: Around Utah: NORTHERN AREA

Layton -- For the past few months, more than 4,000 solar panels have gleamed on the roof of SMITH'S FOOD AND DRUG STORES' main distribution center in Layton. In June, the company officially cut the ribbon on the array, which has been quietly generating up to a quarter of the facility's power since its installation in February.

"Saving energy to be responsible corporate citizens and to save money for our customers has been a priority for us," says Smith's President Jay Cummins. "We've been working for years to make our stores as energy efficient as possible."

Before beginning the solar project last fall, Smith's stores and the distribution center had been trying to be more eco-friendly with more efficient lights and heating. The efforts resulted in a 15 percent decrease in energy use over the last three years.

Because of those efforts, its location, building arrangement and availability of solar incentives from Utah and ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER, the distribution center was chosen as a site for a renewable energy project by parent company Kroger, which had been looking to go greener, says Bryan Handy, program manager for logistics energy for Kroger Logistics.

The company applied for and was...