Desert Hot Springs completes world’s first solar cannabis facility

Canndescent, a massive cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility in Desert Hot Springs, is working to make the ‘green industry’ go greener, completing the industry’s first commercial-scale solar project.

“These facilities are fairly energy intensive and we knew that we wanted to reduce not just our operating costs, but we wanted to reduce our impact on the environment,” said Tom DiGiovanni, Chief Financial Officer of Canndescent.

The company invested $3.75 million to retrofit its 11,000 sq. foot warehouse and start a sustainable growing model. Company leaders say they hope to set an example for the rest of the cannabis industry.

“The amount of carbon offset is the same as a 430-acre forest, that’s like taking 400,000 pounds of coal and not burning it,” DiGiovanni said.

The system uses 734 solar modules on seven different carport structures to energize the state-of-the-art, clean energy project.

In 2016, Canndescent became the first facility in the state to obtain all of its municipal permits. Now, they are hoping to trailblaze the way for other cannabis businesses to go green too.

“We’re seeing the first one here, Canndescent, open. I can see more following suit trying to find ways to bring their cost down when it comes to energy and this is a great opportunity with solar,” said Desert Hot Springs Mayor Scott Matas.

The company faced major financial hurdles for the pricey panels.

“You can’t go to a bank and get a loan, there’s no institutional financing,” DiGiovanni said.

The company hopes they can get ahead of the curve as new energy renewable requirements come for the industry in 2023.

“We’re trying to show the industry that even though it’s extremely difficult to finance these systems, it’s doable. There is a way to get it done,” DiGiovanni said.

The panels currently only power 50 percent of the facility during daylight hours because of space restrictions and fire regulations. Canndescent aims to become even more sustainable with measures like LED lights and super-efficient drip irrigation systems.

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