Solar company powers up Hoyland Farm
When Bob and Joy Lominska began organically farming in the ’70s, it was considered admirable but unrealistic.
More than 30 years later, they’re on another ambitious venture: bringing solar power to their Hoyland Farm north of Lawrence.
“We advertise ourselves as being sustainable,” Bob says. “But we do use electric pumps, coolers and grow lights. We wanted to power as much of the farm as we could (with solar panels).”
Aside from the ecological benefits of renewable energy, the allure of lower energy bills appealed to the Lominskas. The federal rebates and government tax credits were undeniably persuasive.
After seeing a solar power demonstration, Bob Lominska contacted Lawrence-based Cromwell Environmental ( www.powertomorrow.com, 816-318-0002 in Missouri; 785-749-6020 in Kansas) to create a system to meet the demands of their farm.
“It is surprisingly aesthetically pleasing,” Bob Lominska says of the solar panels on his and Joy’s barn.
Cromwell designs and installs grid-tied photovoltaic systems that are interconnected with utility companies.
“Bob’s farm had such a low impact already, it just seemed like the right thing to do,” says Patrick Attwater, director of sales and marketing at Cromwell.
The company created a 3.24 kilowatt grid-tied photovoltaic system to power Hoyland, complete with what Lominska calls a “fun set of meters” to track carbon savings. So far, they’ve saved about 20,000 pounds of carbon from the environment.
Next up: a solar pump for irrigation.
Hoyland Farm sells its produce at the Lawrence farmers market, the Lawrence Community Mercantile and through the Rolling Prairie CSA subscription service.
Read more: https://www.kansascity.com/2010/07/31/2111782/solar-company-powers-up-hoyland.html#ixzz0vQghkEmG
Read more: https://www.kansascity.com/2010/07/31/2111782/solar-company-powers-up-hoyland.html#ixzz0vQgYxwwu
GO SOLAR AND SAVE
Net metering laws in Kansas and Missouri require utility companies to buy back any excess power produced by solar systems. Kansas City Power & Light is required to give customers a solar rebate of $2 a watt, with a maximum rebate of $50,000.
-Jill Reitz
