Big Solar for Border States

Jan. 1, 2012
The Saint Paul RiverCentre convention center in St. Paul, Minn., recently unveiled an 82kW solar photovoltaic installation project on its parking ramp,

The Saint Paul RiverCentre convention center in St. Paul, Minn., recently unveiled an 82kW solar photovoltaic installation project on its parking ramp, thanks to federal stimulus grant dollars from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Border States Electric (BSE), Fargo, N.D., supplied the complete solar package which included solar panels, racking system and solar inverters to Hunt Electric Corp., St. Paul, Minn., the contractor for the project.

“This was a fast-paced and extremely successful project for us. We continue to expand our relationships with solar manufacturers in this exciting, ever-changing market,” said Rick Eckman, BSE's construction market manager.

“We see solar as part of our strategic portfolio to meet our customers' needs on renewable projects, and we can supply the products needed for all phases of a solar energy project,” said Blake Sexton, BSE's vice president of business development.

Border States Electric provides products and services to the construction, industrial and utility markets. Active employees own 100 percent of the company under the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). The employee-owned company has approximately 1,300 employees and 58 branch operations in 13 states. BSE is the seventh largest electrical distributor and one of the 100 largest private ESOP companies in the U.S.