Ford Motor Company is collaborating with Wind Energy Corporation to bring a new and innovative source of clean energy to its dealers. Under a pilot program exclusive to Ford, Wind Energy will install wind sail and solar panel systems at four Ford dealerships, a nearly $750,000 investment, to help power dealer facilities.
Each Windy System includes highly efficient wind sail technology that harvests wind energy and an integrated 7-kilowatt solar array. Ford dealers will use the electricity to power their buildings, electric vehicle charging stations and lot lighting. The wind sails will be emblazoned with the Ford blue oval logo and the name of the dealership – serving as a bold statement by Ford and its dealers’ to their commitment to sustainability.
A Windy System is expected to deliver 20,000 kilowatts of electricity annually. That is enough energy to power two average-sized homes for a year or charge a Ford Focus Electric 870 times, Fusion Energi 2,600 times and C-MAX Energi 2,600 times. Using one Windy System will offset nearly 14 tons of greenhouse gases per year.
“We are pleased to be working with Wind Energy Corporation to offer a pioneering, clean energy option to Ford dealers,” said John Felice, vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service for Ford. “This is yet another innovative tool to help Ford and its dealers address a global sustainability challenge.”
Participating dealers are electric vehicle-certified and were selected by Ford and Wind Energy Corporation for both their exceptional commitment to clean energy and their wind and solar-efficient locations. Installations of the systems are set to begin in early 2015 and be completed by spring. Once installed, the dealerships will keep the systems permanently.
Participating dealers include: Dana Ford Lincoln, in Staten Island, New York; Tom Holzer Ford, in Farmington Hills, Michigan; The Ford Store, in Morgan Hill, California, and Fiesta Ford, in Indio, California.
“The Windy System was created in concert with world-class partners and we are thrilled to bring this innovative renewable energy solution to Ford and its dealers, including our beta site at Boggus Ford in Harlingen, Texas,” said Jim Fugitte, CEO.
“What sets the Windy System apart is its combination of wind, solar, and market impact. It is a branded beacon of sustainability that delivers both energy and a point of view,” said Jack Phillips, COO of Wind Energy.
— Source: Wind Energy Corporation
