EL CAJON, Calif. — Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. (SIRC) today announced that SIRC subsidiary USA Solar Networks has launched a new sales program targeted at U.S. poultry farmers to transition to solar and alternative energy solutions for their energy intensive operations.
A successful beta test in Arkansas with a closing ratio far exceeding national commercial averages provided confidence in the new initiative.
The poultry farm industry in the United States includes over 233,000 poultry farms that generate revenue of over $40 billion dollars annually. Electricity is often the second largest expense for farms that require extensive lighting, ventilation, heating, cooling and feed lines.
USA Solar Networks' new program allows farmers to take advantage of alternative energy benefits to power their operations, including federal tax subsidies available to businesses, reduced or eliminated high utility costs, and substantially increasing cashflow over a 25-year period. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for American Program (REAP) can help farmers reduce energy costs. Under this program farmers are eligible to receive a grant for up to 25% of the solar project cost, which can equate to hundreds of thousands of dollars saved.
"The poultry industry has long been neglected by the solar industry despite being large consumers of electric power," said Pablo Diaz, CEO of USA Solar Networks and president of Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. "Their high electric costs make these farmers ideal candidates for the solar energy solutions we provide."
SIRC sent a team to Mena, Ark., a rural town heavily populated with poultry farms, to beta test the initiative. The company signed development agreements with four business owners, with contracts totaling over $2.5 million dollars.
"This 66% closing ratio far surpasses that of the national commercial sales average of 20%," said Diaz.
David Massey, CEO of Solar Integrated Roofing Corporation, said the company was impressed by the results of the beta test and are confident the nationwide roll-out of the targeted program could generate $50 million dollars in new projects in 2022, with signed development agreements with 100 poultry farms.
In the coming months, the USA Solar Networks team will be returning to Arkansas and neighboring states to offer the benefits of solar.
"Pablo has again demonstrated his value and why we recently tasked him with spearheading growth across the SIRC family of companies as president," Massey said. "He continues to introduce innovative solutions for existing and untapped new markets, contributing to our strong organic growth momentum and shareholder value. We look forward to sharing additional developments and initiatives in months to come."
