By Pacific Coast Business Times Staff Monday, August 9th, 2010

When Jim Efird walks between the grapevines on his Edna Valley vineyard, watching them soak up the California sun, he’s also watching the meter on his electric bill run backward.

Efird is one of a handful of tri-county viticulturists who have turned to solar photovoltaic systems to power their businesses. His Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo installed a solar system a year ago and now offsets about 95 percent of its energy needs with sun power.

Wineries, with high daytime refrigeration costs during the summer and plenty of outdoor space, are ideal solar candidates, Efird said.

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