Solarize Your Farm To Secure Your Energy Future
Farming is energy intensive. Processing crops, pumps, ventilation, the list goes on!
Electricity costs are forecasted to rise across the country, but the cost of your energy never changes once you install solar.
See our case study below on how a dairy farm in Ohio is securing it's future and energy independence through a solar energy system from Countryside Energy.
Grants And Incentives - You REAP What You Sow!
Every Countryside Energy customer receives a complimentary review and detailed information on any grants, credits, or incentives they might qualify for.
USDA Rural Energy For America Program
The USDA offers cash grants covering up to 25% of solar energy installation cost through the Rural Energy For America Program (REAP) for farms and rural businesses. After about a month of waiting we got the news we were hoping for, they were approved! The farm will receive a check from the USDA 30 days after the system goes live for 50% of their costs.
Investment Tax Credit
All farms and businesses are eligible for a tax credit equal to either 30 or 40% of installation costs, based on your location. The tax credit is a dollar for dollar credit that reduces how much federal tax you have to pay in the year your system is installed. The credit can also be carried forward to future years, or you can even sell your credit for cash.
Tier 1 Energy Credits
Customers in Ohio and Pennsylvania receive one Alternative Energy Credit, sometimes called a Solar Renewable Energy Credit, per 1,000 kWH your solar energy system generates. These credits can be sold, with prices historically ranging from $20-$40 per credit.
Ready to see how much power you can generate on your property, and what incentives are available? Schedule A Solar Consultation Now!
Ohio Dairy Farm 144 KW Solar Array - Installed May-June 2025
Countryside Energy helped this multi-generation family-owned and operated dairy farm in western Ohio go solar! The farm has about 400 cows milked several times a day, and now features a 144 KW solar array on the dairy barn's roof that will produce more than $20,000 a year in electricity and credits for the farm annually.
Our process began by evaluating their farm and better understanding their goals. The family had recently invested in a new sand separation system which improved conditions for their cows and reduced bedding expenses, and also added additional ventilation fans to keep their herd comfortable during the hot summer months.
Both of these improvements made great improvements to their operations and animal well-being, but added new large electricity draws and the farm was regularly seeing electricity bills from their local co-op of over $3,000 a month.
After a site visit the Countryside Energy team and the family collaborated on choosing the best part of the farm to install the modules. We considered a ground-mounted installation, the decision was made for the west-sloping dairy barn roof to host the modules. A rooftop mount minimized the impact of the panels on existing farm operations, and reduced installation costs as well.
