Foster’s Wine Estates Enrolls in Cut Back California
Facilities generate revenue through targeted energy conservation
Buffalo, NY, Feb. 4
Foster’s Wine Estates, owners of seven premium California wineries including Beringer Vineyards in St. Helena, and Chateau St. Jean and Asti in Sonoma County, has enrolled in the award-winning demand response program, Cut Back California. The program, administered by Energy Curtailment Specialists, Inc. (ECS), allows facilities to receive payments for their agreement to conserve energy in certain areas of their operations when there is an electricity shortage in the state.
With their enrollment, Foster’s has the option of reducing the use of lights, air compressors, chiller systems, or curtailing other non-essential operations in order to conserve electricity if and when problems arise in the grid. ECS then measures their conservation and compensates them for their cut backs.
“Cut Back California is a great way for us to serve our community while saving on our energy budget, we are proud to be involved,” said Lynne Ryno, production manager at Beringer Vineyards.
Cut Back California seeks to increase grid reliability by shifting electric use from peak periods to off-peak hours and encourages energy conservation efforts through monetary rewards for curtailment during electricity shortfalls. By decreasing energy usage during these peak times, rolling blackouts and brownouts can be avoided. Events are called very infrequently. Last summer PG&E called Cut Back California participants on only one day.
“Foster’s Wine Estates’ dedication to energy conservation and good corporate citizenship is commendable,” said Glen Smith, President and CEO of ECS. “We are thrilled to be able to help them work toward achieving their conservation goals through a program that is flexible, reliable, and financially rewarding.”
In addition to Foster’s Wine Estates, ECS has enrolled other prominent California wineries in the program, including Canandaigua Winery, F Korbel and Brothers Inc., and many others, including a variety of smaller estate vineyards. To learn more about why Cut Back California is increasingly the demand response program of choice for California’s wine makers, please contact Brendan Biddlecom, ECS Senior Program Manager at 877-327-0032. |
