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Harvesting a new crop of sunshine
| Division: | Renewable Energy Generation | |
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| Type: | Coverage | |
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Harvesting a new crop of sunshine
It's the largest Massachusetts solar field at an agricultural operation, outshining the 65-kilowatt system at Four Stars Farm in Northfield.
Well wishers spoke from a stage fashioned out of wooden pallets and decorated with dozens of smiling sunflowers bundled into milk pails. Two hundred spectators looked on. The backdrop was both the Carlsons' new 1.5-acre solar field and rows of mature trees loaded with red, ripening apples.
USDA Rural Development State Director Jay Healy drew applause when he said "It's so great to come back to a farm and see these changes and changes that haven't led into development."
Healy has a 24-kilowatt solar array at his tree-harvesting farm. He shared favorite moments experienced with his photovoltaic field.
He talked of December's full moon and seeing the meter spinning, indicating sunlight was still being captured at night. "That inverter was chunking out 1.7 kilowatts," Healy said.
Another happy moment? Seeing a "pretty disgruntled local utility man" reading his electric meter. "It's great having them owe me something," Healy said.
It was a firsthand account of what the Carlson brothers -- Franklyn, Robert and Bruce -- can expect on their family farm.
Energy from the sun's rays will be collected through 1,050 Evergreen Solar panels and will flow to two Solectria Renewables photovoltaic inverters. Both equipment manufacturers are based out of Massachusetts -- Solectria is from Lawrence and Evergreen panels are made in Devens, mere miles away.
The orchard consumes about 400,000 kilowatts of energy a year, which costs $80,000 last year. The grand plan is to pare the usage and costs by at least 70 percent.
General Manager Franklyn Carlson credits Symantha Gates, who approached him in spring 2009 with a vision for sustainable energy at the family's farm. Gates cobbled together the financing by writing and securing grants from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC), the USDA National Conservation Resource Services and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
"She allowed me to stay focused on what we're doing here at the orchards," Carlson said. Gates said the experience, her first into the grant-writing wilderness, has broadened her appreciation for not only farming but also the effort that the Carlsons pour into their land.
"Farmers are pretty much misunderstood. When people see orchards they see perfectly tended pieces of land. How many hands make these hills bucolic?" Gates said. She credited the brothers for forward-thinking and embracing her solar energy concept.
Carlson said the land cleared to plant the shiny new solar field was used by his parents to grow potatoes in the 1950s. Apple trees planted in the 1960s hit the 50-year mark and were felled for the project.
"Now in 2010 we've come here today to throw the switch on a 220-kilowatt solar system. I'm sure my father really would have been scratching his head when we were cutting down all these trees," Carlson said. "Diversification has been our solution here."
Indeed, the farm has broadened its offerings to include peaches and nectarines in addition to its traditional apple crop. Carlson's is also the largest New England apple cider supplier, which has proven a life blood for the operation. U. S. Rep. Niki Tsongas congratulated the Carlsons and cited her commitment to local farmers. "I'm proud to be part of a ribbon cutting for a new kind of orchard," Tsongas said.
A Lowell resident, Tsongas said she was shocked to discover that there are 500 farms in the Fifth District. "For years I'd driven by without understanding their important economic impact on the state. They're a tremendous economic development resource ... There's more that we have to do to make our businesses more sustainable," Tsongas said. Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Scott Soares said the state is the leader in energy innovation farming. "Models being established here are being replicated around the country."
In all there are 80 solar-equipped farms in the state. "When you start to see that needle spinning backwards, it'll be a great day," Soares said.
Construction was overseen by Lighthouse Electrical Contracting, Inc. of Rockland. Owner Herbie Aikens said he interfaced with Gates, who gathered grants but also reported the Carlsons were "100-percent on board, and that's more than half the battle."
"Six months ago, this view of two acres of solar panels was just a concept. There was still snow on the ground. There were still trees there," Aikens said.
But, on Aug. 13, the grass was green, golden scissors were in Carlson's hand, and the sun shined down on the crowd gathered to watch the cutting of the yellow ribbon.
Staff handed out sugar cookies cut into sun shapes that were bagged and tied with raffia ribbon laced with a coupon for the weekend's Peach Festival at the orchard.
It was a sweet weekend for the Carlsons all around.
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