The cattle pasture on the southern side of Bridgeview Farms is now home to 32 solar PV panels providing 88% of the average annual electricity needed by Tim Mack’s farm and home. A family owned and operated farm, Bridgeview in Zumbrota, MN offers traditionally-raised beef sides and quarters, as well as hay, straw, and pumpkins.
By covering the majority of the farm’s energy use, the solar installation will help keep electricity costs predictable and save the farm money as energy costs rise over the coming years. The farm’s new solar array consists of 32 Heliene modules that are made here in Minnesota and a 10 kW Fronius inverter. The 9.92 kW system is estimated to produce 12,500 kWh every year.
The farm worked with Fritz Ebinger at the Clean Energy Resource Teams to get project planning support through the Renewable Energy for Greater Minnesota program. They came to Fritz from Micah Johnson at Solar Connection, a Rochester-based solar installer. The farm used templates from CERTs to apply for USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which provides grants and loans for energy systems. While the farm was not successful in their REAP funding, they were able to take advantage of the Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive program and the 30% federal tax credit for renewable energy systems.
Through the Renewable Energy for Greater Minnesota program farmers and rural small businesses can get assistance with solar site assessments, and funding and financing support for state and utility incentives and programs like REAP (mentioned above) and Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), a new and simple way to finance energy projects through property tax assessments.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT:
- Business: Cattle, Hay, Straw, and Pumpkin Farm
- Location: Zumbrota, MN
- Approach: Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
- Technology: 9.92 kW (32 Heliene 310-watt panels, Fronius 10 kW inverter) installed by Solar Connection
- Annual Energy Generation: 12,500 kWh
- Total Project Cost: $48,670
- Incentives: 30% Federal Tax Credit, Made in Minnesota Solar program
Find out how you can power your farm or business with the Renewable Energy for Greater Minnesota program
from MN Energy Stories Blog from CERTs http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/blog/bridgeview-farms-zumbrota-harvesting-solar-power-reduce-energy-costs
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