In Athens, Wisconsin, the lush green fields around Stoney Acres Farm supports a diverse farm including cattle, pigs, wheat and organic produce. Once a week during the summer, third-generation farmer Tony Schultz hosts a “Pizza on the Farm” night, selling pies made with his tomatoes, basil, vegetables and pork. Even the pizza crust is made from his home-grown wheat.
On the roof of the barn sits a 23kW array of solar panels that power the farm’s operations as visitors enter the property. While solar power was originally low on Schultz’s investment priority list, it became financially feasible once he took advantage of grants from the USDAs Rural Energy for America, or REAP, program. This federal initiative provides grants and loans for projects like his. REAP funded about 40% of the two solar installations that now provide most of Stoney Acres Farms’ power.
The panels cut his monthly power bill from $800 to $200 or less per month, Schultz says. He’s surprised that solar companies aren’t getting the word out better, but he wants fellow rural business and farm owners to know about the grants. “Even if you don’t care about your carbon footprint, it’s an easy investment,” Schultz said. “My initial costs have already been reimbursed and then some due to the REAP grants. It’s something that gives back.”
Harvesting energy savings in rural communities
REAP is a federally funded program that provides grants and loans to help rural businesses deploy a wide variety of clean and energy efficient technologies. The program partially funds projects that can range from solar panels and battery storage to efficient greenhouse HVAC systems and refrigerators.
REAP was initially funded by the Farm Bill, which appropriated $50 million per year to support renewable energy and efficiency projects for small farms and rural businesses. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 quadrupled that amount and added $2 billion over 10 years. Farmers and rural small business owners can now apply for grants of up to $500,000 for energy efficiency projects and up to $1 million for renewable energy systems.
The REAP grants could break down financial barriers to renewable energy, said Emma Searson, a policy and advocacy campaigner with Solar United Neighbors (SUN), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people gain access to solar energy. SUN offers guidance and support to farmers and rural small business owners applying for REAP funding. “With that funding, those projects suddenly make more sense for a small farmer or rural business owner,” Searson said. “And it’s a powerful equity tool. Rural areas often have limited access to clean, affordable energy technologies, but the REAP program gives extra weight to applications from underserved rural communities.”
Beyond the obvious financial benefits, solar projects can come with a host of other unplanned benefits, Searson said. Energy security and resilience are crucial for farmers, who risk huge losses if the power is interrupted during weather events. Many in rural areas also value independence – producing energy on site aligns with their values of self-reliance. It also helps demonstrate environmental stewardship to customers.
Generating energy can also promote financial stability, which can enable companies to invest back into their business. In some cases, it can even create extra revenue by allowing them to sell power back to the grid. When solar hosting businesses produce more energy than they need, the excess electricity is sent back to the power grid for use by others, and the businesses can credit their utility bill for the energy they contributed.
For Schultz, while the cost savings of solar power was his initial motivator, he also noticed other unexpected benefits. “People are impressed when they see our solar panels – they’re part of our identity,” he said. “Our solar installation confirms Stoney Acres as a sustainable family farm.”
Avoid interruptions, sell energy back
Near Sedona, Arizona, vintner and winery owner Eric Glomski creates wines that reflect the Verde Valley at Page Springs Cellars. He’s also proud that the winery is now powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to solar arrays and Tesla commercial battery storage funded by REAP grants. The grants covered about 25% of the system’s cost, and Glomski said that after just six years, the cellar has already recouped the investment.
Energy independence was a major motivator for the transition to solar power. “The weekends are our biggest revenue generators at the winery,” Glomski said. “If we lose power and have to close for a day during peak season, the business loses almost $15,000.” He also appreciates the energy flexibility – the batteries allow him to store energy to use during peak times when rates are high, and the winery often sells energy back to the grid.
The most tangible benefits of implementing solar have been on the basement’s bottom line, Glomski said. But it also brought intangible benefits to the vineyard’s income and reputation. “People want to put their money with businesses that take sustainability seriously,” he said. “And we’ve gotten so much visibility from our focus on renewable energy — we’ve had newspaper and magazine features, even won awards.”
Other unexpected benefits include the increased sense of pride employees have in the business. Glomski highlights the story of an employee who educated herself about the winery’s sustainability practices and now gives visitors eco-tours of the winery. “The solar panels were a big part of it,” he said.
As Page Springs Winery enjoys the benefits of the REAP program, Glomski hopes other farmers in his region will follow suit. “I know farmers who spend $30,000 [or] $40,000 a year to pump water,” he said. “If they can use the REAP program to finance solar as their energy source, it will make a big difference to their bottom line.”
Even as REAP has become more popular and grants more competitive, Searson still emphasizes that the program is a critical resource. “REAP is a remarkable and impactful event for farmers and rural small businesses,” she said. “This can make solar or other energy efficiency projects financially feasible. These technologies can make a big difference to your business or farming in the long term.”
Solar United Neighbors (SUN) has developed a 10-week program that helps farmers and rural small business owners walk through the REAP application process. Those interested in assisting can join online: Ready, Set, Solar!
