The Farmer

The Problem
A sixth-generation Iowa farmer knew that he had to do something to reduce his energy costs. His on-site capacity was 500,000 bushels and he needed to dry up to 2,000 bushels per hour. Two-thirds of his annual electrical consumption fell into a 90-120-day window. His electric utility rates had been rising between four and seven percent annually. He feared that his utility rates could double within 10 years.

The Solution
Working with his utility company he was able to bank credit for the solar power he generated through Net-Metering. This allowed him to generate electricity throughout the year and use it when he needed it the most. The farmer installed a photovoltaic (PV) solar system capable of generating nearly 100,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

The Outcome
The farmer couldn’t be happier with the installation and the resulting cost savings. Enough to offset his entire electric load for the location. He is also excited that he has taken a big step in environmental sustainability and adopted solar technology that future generations of his farm will be able to take advantage of.