Reading Time: 6 minutes Cory Nelson isn’t what you might call a ‘tree hugger.’ But the Grassy Lake-area farmer is a businessman, and to him, solar energy just makes good financial sense. “We view it as an investment,” said Nelson, who grows a variety of crops under irrigation on his southern Alberta farm. “Our best math said it was […] Read more
The solar power math is starting to add up
A steep drop in solar prices is giving a new meaning to ‘green’ power — and giving Alberta farmers a way to cut energy costs
Funding sparks boom in small-scale solar projects
Attractive lease rates for ‘micro-gen’ projects have many farmers thinking of doing their own
Reading Time: 2 minutes Although smaller-scale community-organized solar farms have, so far, been left in the lurch, there’s good news for farmers and other rural landowners interested in solar. Growing Forward 2 offers grants of up to $50,000 for ‘micro-gen’ solar projects where the power is used in the production of a primary commodity. That kind of government support […] Read more
On-farm solar funding program reopens
Up to $50,000 is available for producers who want to generate solar power on their operations
Reading Time: 2 minutes Growing Forward 2’s On-Farm Solar Photovoltaics program has reopened and is accepting applications. There are a few revisions to the terms and conditions, said project engineer Kelly Lund. “We really encourage potential applicants to read through them to be sure they understand the changes to the program,” said Lund, noting full program information and forms […] Read more
Navigating Alberta’s solar energy boom
Experts weigh in with some best practices for installing solar energy arrays — and getting the job done right
Reading Time: 4 minutes Interest in solar energy on farms and ranches is reaching a fever pitch, thanks in large part to the provincial government’s $5.5-million commitment in February to help farms and municipalities connect solar panels to the electrical grid. And farmers are not the only ones taking notice. With the decline of Alberta’s oil sector, there are […] Read more
Starland County wants to spark solar revolution
The county established a co-op that is planning a solar farm that it hopes will be a model for Alberta communities
Reading Time: 3 minutes A new co-op plans to develop the first community-owned solar farm on the Prairies — a 12-acre block of solar panels to be located in Starland County. But the ultimate goal is much larger — to create a model that can be replicated across the province. “We’re excited that we can be a good host […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
