Owatonna
Heers family farms solar, swine, corn, soybeans, peas
|
|
|
|
Bob Heers and his family farm 2,600 acres near Owatonna, MN, and were named Steele County Farm Family of the Year in 2010 by the University of Minnesota. They finish 10,000 pigs a year and row crop corn, soybeans, and peas. Though the farm has expanded, it was started by Bob’s father and grandfather in the 1950s when they moved to Steele County. In 2015, when his sons Matt and Nate entered the farm operation, Bob invested in the future by adding 80kW of solar energy.
|
|
|
FEATURED EVENT
June 17, 2020
6:00-7:00pm Central
|
|
|
Field Work Podcast
Listen: Adding to farm income with solar and wind energy
|
|
|
|
Crop prices aren't what they used to be, so some farmers have sought out additional sources of income, including clean energy. On a recent episode of Field Work podcast, hosts Zach Johnson and Mitchell Hora talk to Pat Duncanson, a fifth generation farmer in southern Blue Earth County who has several solar projects on his land, and Fritz Ebinger with CERTs, who helps farmers explore clean energy options.
|
|
Morris
Researchers test solar energy’s shade benefits for cows
|
|
|
|
University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center’s (WCROC) 30 kW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system generates power for the Center’s operations, while also serving important research and educational functions. This investment in on-site solar energy has inspired studies of the benefits of on-farm solar beyond power generation, including providing dairy cows with a cool resting place.
|
|
Chisago & Mower Counties
Video: Farmers harvest solar & wind energy
|
|
|
|
More and more farmers in Minnesota are reaping the benefits of clean energy. Some are installing solar to power their own operations, while others are leasing their land for solar and wind. This video from The Power of Minnesota highlights the stories of farmers in Chisago County with solar, and a family in Mower County farming the wind.
|
|
Get connected
Upcoming Virtual Events
|
|
|
FEATURED EVENT
June 17, 2020
6:00-7:00pm Central
|
|
|
June 24-26th: ASES SOLAR 20/20 is the American Solar Energy Society’s 49th annual National Solar Conference and will be the first-ever fully-virtual conference. The virtual conference will be held online on June 24-25 with workshops and NABCEP courses on GoToWebinar June 26. The conference will feature technical sessions, provocative plenary panels, an action-focused Town Hall, plus online networking, and more.
July 9, 16, 23, 30: This series of free webinars from Fresh Energy explores how super-efficient buildings can become the new normal in equitable, affordable housing.
|
|
Current opportunities
Clean Energy Job Board
|
|
|
|
|
