State Officials, Partners and Employees Gather to Launch System and to Begin Drawing Energy from Connecticut’s Sunshine 

Manchester, Connecticut - Allied Printing Services today marked the completion of a solar installation at their Manchester, Connecticut facility at a ceremony attended by elected officials, legislators, energy and utility officials, partners and employees.  This major sustainable energy initiative represents one of the largest arrays of solar photovoltaic panels in the state of Connecticut and New England.  

John G. Sommers, Jr., president and CEO of Allied Printing Services was joined by Jay Moran, Mayor of Manchester; Ken Curran, State Director for Senator Chris Murphy; Rich Kehoe, State Director for Senator Richard Blumenthal; Conor Quinn, District Aide & Grants Coordinator for Congressman John Larson; State Representative Gayle Mulligan, (R-55); State Representative Mark Tweedie, (R-13); State Representative Jeff Currey (D-11); Tracy Babbidge, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Energy and Technology, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
and Susan Chase of Eversource Energy in commemorating the completion of the system.  

The 1.4 megawatt system, which is comprised of 4,591 panels atop Allied’s 275,000 ft² facility, will provide about 17% of Allied’s total electricity usage.  The environmental benefit of the system is equivalent to powering 145 homes for a year, or planting 27,000 acres of trees. Allied Printing’s use of solar power will also result in the avoidance of about 1,116,000 pounds of CO₂ per year. 

“This solar installation will provide major environmental benefits, and at the same time, help us reduce our overall energy usage,” said Sommers. “It is part of our ongoing environmental sustainability program, and it’s exciting to know that our future growth will be powered by the sun.” 

Allied partnered with EnterSolar, a leading provider of solar photovoltaic systems to the commercial marketplace, for the financing structure, design and installation of the new solar system, allowing the Company to take advantage of federal, state and utility incentives in making the decision to commit to this major investment in green technology.  Allied expects a payback period of under 5 years given the current cost of electricity, and will be able to sell excess power generated by the solar system back to Eversource, the electric utility covering service area. 

“It is gratifying to work with businesses that are taking a leadership role in environmental sustainability,” added Paul Ahern, president, EnterSolar. “We are delighted to help celebrate the launch of this system that will benefit not only Allied, but the greater community as well.”