Powering Next Generation Farmers with Community-Based Solar

In the rolling hills of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom sits Hill View Farms – a family-owned and operated dairy farm run by Henry Pearl, whose father ran the farm before him. Hill View is a member of Organic Valley’s cooperative, which provides farmers with stable prices for products, strong sales pipelines, and additional as-needed support to keep farms operating. The cooperative helps support small-time farmers and seeks to inspire and educate the next generation of farmers with a focus on sustainable and organic farming.

Developed in partnership with Vermont-based solar developer, SunCommon, the Hill View Farms project brings 59 kW of clean energy to the roof of the its barn. Over the project’s life, it’s projected to provide Hill View Farm with over $52,000 in energy savings, reduce over 1,200 metric tons of carbon emissions, and create two solar job years.

In an excerpt from Organic Valley’s website featuring Hill View Farms, Pearl talks about why he does what he does, noting: “Farming is not a big money-making proposition, but I don’t do this for the money. I do this for my kids and for the future. I grew up this way and I’m very grateful for what my parents and grandparents did for me. I can only hope my kids will look back some day and see that I did a good job. And maybe they’ll want that job, too.”

Reach out to learn more about partnering with Sunwealth.