Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting in Jefferson County. I met with the farms owners, Steve and Lucinda, to discuss how their certified organic farm has benefited from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also known as the Stimulus). Specifically, Steve and Lucinda received a grant to install solar panels on the roof of their barn, helping them work towards running a self-sustaining farm. Because of the solar panels the farms energy costs have dropped from $350 a month to $35 a month. Within 20 years the panels will have paid for themselves, while helping to reduce the farm’s dependence on traditional means of receiving power.
Now let me be clear: this is not a Government handout, but an investment in rural America and sustainability. Steve and Lucinda still paid a large part of the cost to have these solar panels installed. The stimulus put them in a position to pay the upfront costs of this project, often the largest obstacle for any small business or farm trying to expand or upgrade. With the money saved from much smaller electric bills, Steve and Lucinda are in a position to consider expanding their farm and possibly hiring new workers in the future.
Check out the video from my visit: