The four‑acre project locks in California’s favorable NEM 2.0 credits for 20 years, offsetting 2 MW of power and the emissions of 640 cars while advancing Stemilt’s Responsible Choice sustainability pledge
Chinchiolo Stemilt California (CSC), the Stockton‑based cherry grower, packer, and shipper owned by Wenatchee‑headquartered Stemilt Growers, is moving ahead with a 3,000‑panel solar array that will span four acres on the northwest edge of its facility and is expected to come on‑line in 2026.
The project, recently cleared by Pacific Gas & Electric under the state’s Net Energy Metering 2.0 (NEM 2.0) tariff, is designed to generate roughly 2 megawatts of electricity enough to offset the site’s annual energy demand and trim greenhouse‑gas emissions by the equivalent of taking 640 cars off the road for the next quarter‑century.
Under NEM 2.0, solar customers receive bill credits for any excess electricity they push back to the grid; although California regulators replaced that tariff with NEM 3.0 in 2023, CSC’s application was filed early enough to be “grandfathered” for 20 years, locking in a better payback period than projects approved under the new net‑billing rules .
Company engineers estimate the array will produce more energy than the plant consumes during peak summer sunshine, allowing CSC to bank credits for nighttime and seasonal use.
A feasibility study by ACIP Energy projects “conservative” long‑term savings, based on current PG&E rates, once the system receives its final inspection.
From contractor selection to commissioning, construction is expected to take about 12 months, and all milestones have been timed so the array is fully operational ahead of the 2026 cherry season.
“At CSC, we are committed to producing high‑quality fruit and also being responsible stewards of the environment. In celebration of Earth Day this month, we’re proud to launch our solar panel installation project, a major step in reducing our carbon footprint and promoting sustainable energy practices. By harnessing the power of the sun, we’re ensuring a greener future for our community, our business, and future generations.”
Erick Stonebarger, General Manager
The Stockton expansion is Stemilt’s second major solar investment.
In 2018 the company added a 100‑panel rooftop array at its Wenatchee headquarters, an initiative that grew out of Responsible Choice®, the sustainability program Stemilt founder Tom Mathison created in 1989 to integrate environmental, social, and economic stewardship across the business .
Once operational, CSC’s array is forecast to displace approximately 197 million vehicle‑miles of carbon dioxide emissions over 25 years and cut nitrogen‑oxide and sulfur‑oxide pollution as well.
“The environmental impact of this project is incredibly rewarding,” Stonebarger added.
The decision to secure NEM 2.0 status underscores the shifting economics of distributed solar in California.
A December 2022 ruling by the California Public Utilities Commission transitioned new applicants to NEM 3.0, which sharply reduces export credits and encourages pairing rooftop panels with battery storage; existing NEM 2.0 customers, however, retain their more generous compensation structure for two decades .
Stemilt executives describe the CSC project as a “proof point” for other specialty‑crop operations with high refrigeration and packing loads.
While the size of the installation is tailored to CSC’s energy profile, Stonebarger said the company is evaluating additional sites where solar can be paired with high‑efficiency equipment upgrades and, eventually, on‑site storage to further reduce demand charges during the hottest weeks of the cherry harvest.
