Press Release

SolMicroGrid Completes Microgrid Energy Project at Chick-fil-A Restaurant in Santa Rosa, CA

April 12, 2024

NEW YORK, N.Y., April 12, 2024 — SolMicroGrid, a leading national microgrid company, announced the completion of its second microgrid project with Chick-fil-A, Inc. at Chick-fil-A® Mendocino Avenue, one of the brand’s locally owned and operated locations in Santa Rosa, Calif.

The innovative project provides numerous benefits to the restaurant and the local community, including full energy resiliency and on-site generation of renewable energy. SolMicroGrid’s system effectively addresses the issues of planned and unplanned power outages, allowing the restaurant to remain operational and serve guests, and reflects Chick-fil-A’s focus on opportunities to care for the planet. This new microgrid project follows the successful deployment of a similar microgrid system for a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Stockton, Calif., which has been providing these benefits since the system was commissioned in 2022. Chick-fil-A is the first quick-service restaurant brand in the U.S. to pilot these solar-powered microgrid systems designed for a 5,000-square-foot building.

“Chick-fil-A embraces opportunities for environmental stewardship, and this innovative microgrid system allows us to both care for our planet and local communities,” said Heather Beaubien, Director of Sustainability for Chick-fil-A, Inc. “Harnessing this unique energy strategy at Chick-fil-A Mendocino Avenue helps the restaurant reduce its reliance on the local utility grid and continue operating to serve the community in times of need.”  

“SolMicroGrid is proud to partner with Chick-fil-A to provide innovative energy solutions that will contribute to their sustainability goals, community impact, business continuity, and profitability,” said Kirk Edelman, CEO of SolMicroGrid.

Through a combination of solar, natural gas generators, and on-site battery energy storage, microgrids provide the reliability of continuous power during utility outages while also generating green energy, reducing the need for utility-supplied power and delivering meaningful cost savings. Moreover, SolMicroGrid’s Energy-as-a-Service business model eliminates the need for customers to invest their own capital.

Chick-fil-A and SolMicroGrid will plan to launch a third system at an additional Chick-fil-A restaurant in California later this year.

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About SolMicroGrid

SolMicroGrid is a differentiated developer and operator of solar-enabled microgrid systems, offering energy resiliency and efficiency to commercial and industrial customers. SolMicroGrid is a portfolio company of Morgan Stanley Energy Partners. For further information about SolMicroGrid, please visit www.solmicrogrid.com.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States, known for its freshly prepared food, signature hospitality and unique franchise model. More than 200,000 Team Members are employed by independent owner-operators in more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. In 2023, the company shared plans to expand by 2030 into Europe and Asia. Chick-fil-A owner-operators live and work in the communities their restaurants serve, each supporting local efforts to address hunger, education, and making a positive impact. The family-owned and privately held company was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.com and @ChickfilANews.

SolMicroGrid announced the completion of its second microgrid project with Chick-fil-A at their new location in Santa Rosa, CA. The innovative project provides numerous benefits to the restaurant and the local community, including full energy resiliency, on-site generation of renewable energy, and cost savings.