Krasdale breaks ground on largest solar panel project
BY JASON COHEN
Krasdale Foods, which has been in
the Bronx for more than fi ve decades,
broke ground last week on the largest
solar project in the borough to date.
On Sept. 30, Krasdale, a large-scale
grocery distributor, held a special
launch event onsite at its Hunts Point
warehouse, located at 400 Food Center
Drive, where employees, elected
offi cials and members of the NYC
Economic Development Corporation
(EDC) were all in attendance.
The project will generate more
than 3 million kilowatts of solar electricity
offsetting 5 million pounds of
carbon dioxide.
“I’m thrilled to fi nally be together
to commemorate the start of this landmark
installation that will be the largest
in the Bronx and one of the largest
in the fi ve boroughs,” said Gus Lebiak,
president and COO of Krasdale Foods.
Lebiak said this project did not happen
overnight, nor was it a one-man
job. Krasdale worked with the city
EDC, which owns the Hunts Point Distribution
Center, and Bronx Borough
President Ruben Diaz Jr., and City
Councilman Rafael Salamanca, both
Democrats.
Rachel Loeb, president and CEO of
EDC, told the Bronx Times she hopes
this project will spur more solar panel
initiatives throughout the borough.
According to Loeb, tenants often come
to the EDC asking how they can be
good partners. After speaking with
Lebiak and the staff at Krasdale, she
realized a solar panel project would
not only help Krasdale, but the Bronx
community.
In fact, the panels will reduce electric
bills for 300 families in the Hunts
Point section.
“There’s no economic health without
climate health,” she said. “It’s not
just about providing renewable energy
here, but for all New Yorkers. We’re always
looking for properties to reduce
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carbon emissions with partners like
Krasdale.”
Diaz, who has been an elected offi
cial for 26 years and in two months
will be hanging up his spurs, told the
attendees how a project like this is a
game changer. He praised Krasdale
and the EDC for making this momentous
occasion happen. As the Bronx is
the least healthy county in New York
State and is known for high asthma
rates, hypertension, obesity and diabetes,
Diaz hopes these solar panels will
help reduce emissions, help Bronxites
breathe easier and make the Bronx
more affordable. It’s a step in the right
direction and other companies must
follow suit, he said.
“To have Krasdale who has been
here for so long make this announcement
about solar panels it warms my
heart,” he added. “I hope today is not
just about an announcement and a
groundbreaking, but I hope it becomes
contagious.”
Krasdale employees break ground on the largest solar panel project in the Bronx on Sept.
30, 2021.
Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., at the
groundbreaking for a solar panel project in
Hunts Point, the fi rst of its kind in the Bronx.
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