GridZero Founder shares details of the CBO Foundation Research Center objectives.
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Founder/President/CEO Peter Ortmann shares more about GridZero's history and vision.
The CBO Foundation intends to establish two of its proposed ClearBlue Agricultural Resilience Research & Training Centers. (CBO Research Centers) over the next three years. One located on the central or southern coast of California, and one on the Island of Maui, Hawaii.
We hope to integrate our farm training programs with a local university that has existing agricultural programs. Our mission is to evaluate over a ten year period the growth and yield outputs of growing produce, citrus crops, winegrapes, and coffee beans under solar canopies, vs traditional farming methods.
The Research Center project will blend agriculture, atmospheric water generation innovation, farming education, and training together to provide lasting local jobs, sustainable nourishment, and train future generations. It is where food, water, power and people come together for the benefit of the common good.
Depending on the actual project size, we will incorporate into each project a 120,000 - up to 200,000 Gallon-per-Day (GPD) Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) - water-making plant to offset the need and use of local water resources for all farming operations. The project will also feature a 120,000 sf vertical farming for produce and berries, incorporate extensive solar and wind turbine energy production of up to 140 MegaWatts of power daily to make the entire project, independent from the local grid. In fact surplus water and power will be offered for sale into the local grid whenever possible.
How Are Our Projects Funded
Each of these large scale projects is estimated to cost $120 to $200 million to fully build out, with development in various stages. Initially design, land acquisition cost and site development work will be paid directly by APVG from its 10% share, and CBO Foundations' 15% share of the monthly ClubZERO Rewards membership dues paid by members. Some elements of the project - like the AgriVoltaic farming will likely receive state and federal grants to help offset costs, along with corporate and private donations and sponsorships.
The goal is to create a working model to demonstrate that growing healthy sustainable food for local clients and restaurants that offer farm-to-table practices, is a responsible way to address future food shortages, when or if they occur. Each facility will have a farmers market to sell produce, water, ICE and citrus to help offset ongoing costs.