Jensen Meat installed solar-powered cells and an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at its Otay Mesa, Calif., headquarters manufacturing plant. The panels are positioned in the company’s carport and support Jensen Meat’s goals to decrease waste and reduce energy footprint.

The high-efficiency solar panels, manufactured by SunPower, San Jose, Calif., are estimated to produce 43% of Jensen’s power, or 1,278,671 kilowatts (kWh). The commercial-grade cells will convert 70% more energy per square foot over 25 years and produce 38% more power per panel. The company’s selected cells are also fine-tuned to adjust to conditions and weather variations.

“We continually strive to develop unique sustainability programs for our company,” says Abel Olivera, chief executive officer of Jensen Meat. “Our partnerships with local companies – as well as national leaders in the renewable energy space – helped us find a mutually beneficial solution that complements our environmental mission.”

SunPower’s system will all but eliminate the impact on Jensen Meat’s production during installation. Jensen currently operates out of what is said to be one of the most modern plants west of the Mississippi, and manufactures 250 SKUs of retail and foodservice products.

“Sustainability is essential in our industry, and it’s good business practice,” adds Olivera. “We are proud to be leaders in our field, reducing costs while ensuring our customers get top-quality, beef products.”