Exiting news out of Massachusetts today.

Fujifilm Recording Media USA has cut the ribbon on a big rooftop solar panel installation located at its Bedford, Massachusetts manufacturing facility. The solar array, made up of 1,870 modules, will generate an estimated 644,000 kWh of electricity each year, resulting in a yearly carbon offset of about 444 metric tons of CO². Columbia Construction Company out of North Reading and Absolute Green Energy Corporation out of Worcester were crucial in building the solar power plant.

If you haven’t already guessed, Fujifilm Recording Media manufactures the tape drives that stores massive amounts of archival data for countless enterprises. Here’s what going solar means to Fujifilm and why green techies should care:

With this installation, Fujifilm will realize a substantial cost savings on its current energy usage. In addition, the company will be able to take advantage of the utilities net energy metering program that provides ongoing benefits. Globally, Fujifilm has a Greenhouse gas target set at 30 percent reduction in CO₂ emissions by Fiscal Year 2020, as compared to 2005.

“This represents a great opportunity for Fujifilm to make significant progress, and help contribute to our global corporation’s overall mission of energy conservation and greenhouse gas reduction,” said Peter Faulhaber, president, FUJIFILM Recording Media U.S.A., Inc.  “By collaborating locally at our Bedford facility with Absolute Green Energy and Columbia Construction, we will utilize an affordable, clean, and renewable energy solution and continue to make strides toward our energy goals.”

Now, when you backup to Fujifilm tape, think of how green it is.

Image credit: Fujifilm Recording Media USA