Glen Raven Inc. has launched a $2 million solar farm at its Anderson, S.C.-based manufacturing plant. The 1-million-square-foot facility previously received natural gas and nuclear power from Duke Energy. But now the company’s 3,076-panel solar farm will power 100 percent of the facility’s lights.

“We have culturally always had a great interest and responsibility to make sure we are looking at environmentally sound and sustainable practices, says Lieb Oehmig, Glen Raven’s president and CEO.

Oehmig says Glen Raven expects to achieve payback on its investment within four years in terms of energy savings. This is the second solar array for the high-tech textile manufacturer. The first was a rooftop installation at its plant in Norlina, N.C., about 60 miles north of Raleigh.

Built in 1994, the North Carolina-based company’s Anderson plant–called Glen Raven Custom Fabrics–is the largest manufacturing facility for the Sunbrella brand of fabrics for awning, marine and upholstery applications. The company employs more than 700 people.