"At Clif we treat energy like an ingredient"- Clif Bar to install multi-usage solar power system

A Twin Falls bakery aims to support the local biodiversity and use energy efficient technology.

On Tuesday, Clif Bar's Twin Falls Bakery held a kickoff celebration to announce they will be installing one of the largest onsite solar power systems.

The two-megawatt system will power 30 percent of their 300,000 square foot bakery.

"Up until now, we've been been purchasing wind energy from Idaho," said Bakery Project Engineer Lane Daley. "This new system will work well for us. We really like the ownership of the system."

Daley explained they see their energy source as an ingredient.

"The syrup or the raisins or the nuts that we put in our bars." Daley explained. "It's important for us that it's clean, this is a way to make sure we're making our bars with clean energy."

The system will include pollinator habitat to support local plants and pollinator insects such as bees and butterflies.

"Pollinators across the globe are in drastic decline," said Elysa Hammond, director of environmental stewardship for Clif Bar and Company . "This is because of loss of habitat, of chemical pollution, of disease."

The solar power will not only benefit the environment but will reduce the cost for Clif Bar and allow it to be use as multi-usage for employees, said Daley.

"Not only is this system generating power that we're using to make our clif bars," she continued. "It's keeping our employees cars cool in the summer, so they don't have to blast their air conditioner as soon as they turn on their car."

The solar array will be constructed by Borrego Solar in the upcoming weeks and expected to be completed by June 2019.

The company will also expand their locker room and storage as well.

"We've grown our team at Twin Falls from a little more than 200 people when they bakery opened to nearly 300 today," said Susan Potucek, human resource manager. "Our locker rooms gets crowded, we're storing production and maintenance uniforms in hallways, and space for contractors is tight."