First Installation Completed with Solar FlexRack's New Ballasted Solution

FlexRack Series B Cast in Place, Installed By Turning Mill Energy

Youngstown OH, March 28, 2016- Solar FlexRack™, a division of Northern States Metals and an innovative leader in photovoltaic mounting solutions, announced today the installation of the first solar power generation system which utilizes its new FlexRack Series B3P-X racking system. The B3P-X racking system, together with Solar FlexRacks inventive Cast in Place (CIP) ballasted system, provides a robust solution for challenging terrain and reduces installation costs. The project, located in Dighton, Massachusetts has been completed by Turning Mill Energy.


The 650kw DC system utilizes the newly designed FlexRack Series B Cast in Place ballasted system. Unlike any other ballasted solution, this unique design easily adapts to uneven terrain allowing for a simple and efficient installation process that requires no added material to secure the form.

Economically shipped as a two-piece, pre-assembled form, the system can be operational in less than three minutes with two people. The Series B-CIP streamlines installation by decreasing labor time and reduces expensive shipping costs resulting in a superior solution for a more advantageous price.

"Every project is different, which is why we pride ourselves on providing custom options to fit each projects unique needs," said Steve Daniel, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "The Series B-CIP allows companies the flexibility in choosing which ballasted option will work best with their project site."

The Turning Mill Energy project is comprised of 120 FlexRack Series B3P-X portrait racks. The energy generated from this solar project will benefit the town of Mendon, Massachusetts.

"Solar FlexRacks Series B-CIP is the complete CIP racking solution. It allowed us to build a pour-in-place system as fast as a precast ballasted system and at a lower cost," said Tony Johnson, Managing Partner, Turning Mill Energy.

The FlexRack Series B-CIP is Solar FlexRacks newest ground-mount system for installing ballasted PV solar on landfills, brownfields, and water-saturated terrain where little or no soil penetration is allowed. The simple design characteristics, the ability to level posts after forms are set, the customizable block sizing, the roll-formed light weight forms, and the limited components needed for installation, make Series B-CIP the most user-friendly, innovative system available. To learn more about Solar FlexRacks two ballasted options, Series B-CIP and Series B Pre-Cast, both offering flexible and reduced cost installation solutions, please visit www.solarflexrack.com/products/ballast/.

About Solar FlexRack
Solar FlexRack, a division of Northern States Metals, is an integrated solar company that offers custom-designed, fixed tilt ground mount and single-axis tracking systems in the commercial and utility scale, solar mounting industry. Solar FlexRack also offers full turnkey packages, including engineering, geotechnical, pullout testing, field, layout, and installation services to address the actual site conditions of an installation, providing a full scope of services from design to delivery and installation. Solar FlexRack has completed more than 1 GW of solar racking installations in 32 states across America and five countries globally. More information on Solar FlexRack can be found at www.solarflexrack.com

About Turning Mill Energy
Turning Mill Energy LLC has had its roots in engineering and development of projects since 2007. In 2011, the company began owning and operating solar systems and in 2013, established themselves as a solar electrical contractor with 30 MW of projects complete in Massachusetts. A year later, Turning Mill Energy started to execute commercial electrical projects to include hotels, apartments and condominium complexes. They have since grown to 25 employees over this time frame.

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