"At EOS, we believe strongly in producing our wines in a way that is friendly to the land and the environment as a whole," said Jeff Hopmayer, the new owner of The EOS Estate Winery. "Because of the abundant sunshine, California is the perfect place to harvest solar power and utilize it to create our award-winning wines."

SunTechnics, the leading installer of solar electric systems worldwide, will install the new system. The EOS system will contain 3,084 photovoltaic modules totaling 540 kWp and 60 solar hot water collectors. The system can save the equivalent of 360 acres of planted trees and over 21,000 tons of CO2 saved over 25 years.

SunTechnics will use state-of-the-art single axis technology that actively tracks the sun's path as it moves across the sky throughout the day. "Standard solar power systems harvest the sun's power only at peak levels during the day," said Florian Edler, CEO of SunTechnics Energy Systems, Inc. "The system that we created for EOS will follow the sun all day avoiding any shading. This will allow EOS to operate on 100% solar power in the most efficient way possible."

Hopmayer and his partners at Sapphire Wines LLC purchased The EOS Estate Winery in August. "From the first day, we knew that investing in a solar power system was one of our highest priorities," said Hopmayer. "In Paso Robles, we are blessed with the perfect climate for growing grapes. By using alternative energy, we are doing our part to protect our environment while continuing to produce the highest quality wine."

EOS worked closely on this deal with the City of Paso Robles. "We are so pleased with The EOS Estate Winery's leadership in the area of solar power," said Frank Mecham, Mayor of Paso Robles. "Not only is this the first winery in the county to convert completely to solar power, it also is one of the largest projects like this in the state."

California's tax rebates are vital in encouraging businesses to convert to solar power. "With California's tax rebates and available federal tax breaks, businesses like The EOS Estate Winery can recoup the initial investments more quickly," said Mark Mosher, Acting Executive Director for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth. "We commend EOS Estate Winery for making an important investment in the future of our state."

EOS Estate Winery
The EOS Estate Winery was built in 1985 by the Arciero Family, and purchased in 2007 by Sapphire Wines LLC of Franklin, Tenn. The EOS brand was introduced in 1997. The winery, named after the Goddess of the Dawn in Greek mythology, features an impressive wine portfolio directed by senior winemaker Leslie Melendez. The EOS brand has been named "The Best Petite Sirah" and "The Best Zinfandel" in California, and "One of the Top 100 Wines in the World" by The Wine Enthusiast.

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