Solar panels boost efficiency at Cenex Zip Trip travel plaza

As tools and technologies to use alternative energy sources become more accessible, it's becoming easier to harness the power of the Earth's most abundant resource: the sun.

In eastern Montana, 130 62-kilowatt solar panels are helping to power the Cenex Zip Trip travel plaza. Perched high on the c-store's roof, each panel is installed at precisely the right angle to capture maximum sunlight. The panels are projected to provide nearly 70,000 kilowatt-hours of energy per year.

"We were looking for efficient solutions that could not just lower our carbon footprint, but would also deliver a return on our investment," says Steve Haase, senior director, operations for Cenex Zip Trip, the CHS-owned convenience store chain. "The impact has been immediately clear. In our first month, we've seen a nearly 50% reduction at our Miles City store compared to average monthly energy costs at our other locations of similar size.

"As part of the cooperative system, we're always looking to try new things and share that knowledge forward," says Haase.

Check out the full Fall 2024 C magazine with this article and more.

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