DAYVILLE, Conn., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Natural Foods,
Inc. (Nasdaq: UNFI) along with Solar Works, Inc., the Connecticut Clean Energy
Fund and several Connecticut politicians, are scheduled to dedicate the
installation of the largest solar electric system in New England on December
13, 2007. The 550-kilowatt STC solar photovoltaic system, installed at UNFI's
natural foods distribution facility in Dayville, Conn., is expected to
generate approximately 600,000 kilowatt hours of clean energy annually, enough
to power more than 67 average New England homes for one year. The system
output will avoid over 14 million pounds (over 6,350 metric tons) of carbon
dioxide over the 25-year life of the system.
Milestone Clean Energy Project
United Natural Foods is one of the country's largest distributors of
natural and organic foods and is partnering with the Connecticut Clean Energy
Fund (CCEF), a ratepayer fund administered by Connecticut Innovations Inc.
The $1.9 million grant from CCEF is provided through the fund's On-Site
Renewable Distributed Generation Program. The development and installation of
the solar electric system has been managed by Solar Works, Inc., a leading
renewable energy systems integrator in the Northeast U.S. with over 800 solar
energy installations and 25 years of experience.
WHEN Thursday, December 13th 2007
10:00 a.m. Eastern
WHERE United Natural Foods
260 Lake Road
Dayville, CT 06241
http://www.unfi.com/events/solar_panels.html
WHO Michael Funk, President & CEO of United Natural Foods
Donald E. Williams, Jr., Connecticut State Senator
John Hollay, Office of Representative Congressman Joseph D.
Courtney
Timothy Bowles, Chairman, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund Board
Ron French, President, Solar Works, Inc.
WHY United Natural Foods, CCEF and Solar Works, Inc. all share a
commitment to renewable energy and our environment. CCEF
promotes the development and commercialization of clean energy
technologies. Solar Works, Inc. is active in commercializing
new technologies and developing renewable energy programs for
both public and private sector clients.
The Dayville, Conn. facility serves as both United Natural Foods'
corporate headquarters, as well as a regional distribution center in the
Company's nationwide distribution network. The facility employs more than 500
people and serves customers in both the New England area and New York. United
Natural Foods has the largest warehouse capacity of any distributor in the
natural products industry and, with the recent addition of the Sarasota,
Florida location it has more than 3.8 million square feet of space at 17
distribution centers nationwide.
About the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)
CCEF was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and is administered
by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public organization. CCEF promotes the
development and commercialization of clean energy technologies; the creation
of clean energy supply; and the demand for electricity from clean, renewable
sources in Connecticut in order to strengthen Connecticut's economy, protect
community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply
for the state. CCEF's funding comes from a surcharge on electric ratepayers'
utility bills. For more information on CCEF, please visit
http://www.ctcleanenergy.com.
About Solar Works Inc.
Solar Works, Inc. (http://www.solarworksinc.com) is the leading solar
electric systems integrator in the Northeast serving commercial, institutional
and residential customers. Over the past 25 years, Solar Works has installed
over 800 renewable energy systems. Solar Works has expertise in engineering
design, project management, performance analysis, project financing and
renewable energy credit programs. Founded in 1980, Solar Works is active in
commercializing new technologies and developing renewable energy programs for
both public and private sector clients.
About United Natural Foods
United Natural Foods, Inc. carries and distributes more than 40,000
products to more than 17,000 customers nationwide. The Company serves a wide
variety of retail formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural
product superstores, independent retail operators and the food service
channel. United Natural Foods, Inc. was ranked by Forbes in 2005 as one of the
"Best Managed Companies in America," ranked by Fortune in 2006 and 2007 as one
of its "Most Admired Companies," and ranked by Business Ethics as one of its
"100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2006."
SOURCE United Natural Foods, Inc.
CONTACT: Thomas A. Dziki of United Natural Foods, 1-860-779-2800,
SolarPanels@unfi.com; or Scott Eckstein of Financial Relations Board,
1-212-827-3776, for United Natural Foods; or Emily Smith of Connecticut Clean
Energy Fund, 1-860-257-2337; or Ron French of Solar Works, Inc.,
1-203-762-8921
Web site: http://www.unfi.com/events/solar_panels.html
http://www.ctcleanenergy.com
http://www.solarworksinc.com
(UNFI)