Solar for Farms
We hear time and time again that solar power for farms just makes sense: the sun fuels everything else on the farm, so why not the electricity, too? Not to mention the various incentives and grant programs that make it a worthwhile investment.
We spoke with farmers in Vermont and New York about how solar works for them — check out what they have to say!
“Having those solar panels on the roof is exciting for us because it increases the productivity of that particular building that was losing value because it was built so long ago, and we now have 100-and-some-odd solar panels. That brings the value of that building up considerably.”
“The way you lay out a modern apple orchard is actually all about light interception; how much sun you’re catching…. You talk about light interception harnessing the sun, this is what we’re already doing.”
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“Economically, Suncommon was able to make it work for us. Repayment of our loan is going to be cheaper per month than our electricity use is right now.”
“All our crops are fed by the sun. All our animals eat grains and grass that are fed by the sun. Getting solar was a no-brainer.”
USDA’s REAP Grant
One reason so many farms are going solar right now is the USDA’s REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) grant program which can cover up to 50% of the cost of an eligible business’s solar project.
When combined with the 30% federal investment tax credit, additional state tax credits, and depreciation benefits, this grant can have a huge impact.