Vermont dairy farms find a cash crop in community solar

Vermont is a state known for its rolling green hills spotted with dairy cows. The dairy industry generates over $2.2 billion for Vermont annually, yet, with increasingly thin profit margins, local farmers are looking for ways to compete without losing use of any of their land, moving to greener financial pastures with a community solar subscription.

Two recently completed off-site community solar projects built and developed by Norwich Solar and financed by partners, Solaris Energy and Greenday Finance, will now provide over 2,100 kWh of renewable energy annually for six locally run dairy farms. The projects are both 500 kWAC (864 kWDC) solar ground-mount sites built on less productive land in Newbury and Jamaica. Each array is expected to reduce fixed energy costs to increase profit margins, ensuring these farms can provide economic benefit to the region for the long-term.

The Jamaica site is a former gravel pit and is located adjacent to a neighborhood of trailer homes. Several residents have come out to the site to ask questions and express general excitement for the project, Solaris Energy stated in a press release. The Newbury site is a previously logged hillside.

“It’s a beautiful thing to see locals come together to care for a community resource — especially one that helps their fellow neighbors and local economy. It really hits the mark on what community scale solar is all about,” said Nick Francis, Solaris Energy’s director of project development.

A community of partners helped make the projects a reality. Certified B Corp, Norwich Solar was the lead on early development and construction of the sites.

“We are very fortunate to work with engaged property owners to site these solar projects on underused land, enabling additional value to be unlocked for them,” said Kevin Davis, VP of sales and marketing for Norwich Solar. “The Jamaica project, in particular, was a former gravel extraction site that posed some design and installation challenges, but the final project is quite compelling to see.”

Fellow B Corp, Solaris Energy, provided late-stage development and capital through the final completion of the projects. Investor partner, Greenday Finance took over long-term ownership and will continue to work with Solaris Energy and Norwich Solar for asset management, operations and maintenance services on both sites.

News item from Solaris Energy