Beatrice B. – Greening an Organic Farm in Hoosick, NY

Berle Farm – a 600 acre New York organic farm near the Vermont border – produces fresh yogurt, cheese and beef. With the help of an NYSERDA solar grant, the farm got even greener after switching on its 7.74 kW solar energy system in January 2011. Owner Beatrice Berle is a great example of a local business benefiting an entire community by investing in alternative energy while helping to secure her own future by reducing the amount she’ll pay her New York electricity company for decades.

To help draw attention to this, and to dedicate the system, an event held at Berle Farm was attended by representatives from the U.S. Congress and the USDA (who helped finance the system through a grant). NYSERDA President and CEO Francis J. Murray Jr. also attended (NYSERDA solar grant money was used for the system as well), and noted that “(NYSERDA’s) incentive programs for renewable energy are helping small businesses like Berle Farm invest in expanding their operations instead of their utility bills.”

The system will cover 60-70% of the New York organic farm’s power needs for the foreseeable future.