In Napa Valley, winemaker Far Niente is using all that warm California sun to make their Chardonnay give a little something back to the earth.

In all, the vineyard has flipped the switch on its 2,300 solar panel PV system. But not wanting to give up precious grape space, they located about half of them in their irrigation pond. The Floatovoltaics^TM, float on pontoons, saving 3/4 of an acre of prime (real) estate and about $150,000 worth of Cabernet. About an acre of land was sacrificed for the landlocked panels.

At peak output the solar array will generate 400 kilowatts of electricity. The installation will completely offset the vineyard's yearly power use, making it a zero net-energy operation. A 330 kilowatt system at a sister winery comprises 1,900 panels.

However, the plan wasn't hatched in order to squeeze more money out of the fields. The company has poured $7 million into the two systems doesn't plan to make that investment back for 12 years even with rebates and tax credits.

Says Far Niente President and CEO, Larry Maguire."We made the move to solar, not because it made business or financial sense, but because my partners and I felt it was the right thing to do from a social perspective."

PV isn't the only green thing happening at Far Niente. The winery promotes what it call "conscientious luxury" (a la compassionate conservatism?). Their operation uses sustainable/organic farming,biodiesel farm vehicles and recycling to further shrink their carbon print.

The idea for the installation apparently took off after Maguire's collegiate son shamed him for buying a sports car, chastising him with: "You are worse than the ignorant." Well now he's green and $7 million in the hole, not counting the tuition he's paying to turn his child into a know-it-all.