Solar
The cornerstone incentive is the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) combined with the beneficial, though taxable, Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants. Careful planning can substantially offset the cost of a new solar system.
AI agents and augmented vs. full autonomy were among a handful of trends highlighted at CES 2025, where we also checked out some crazy concept vehicles you need to see to believe.
A quick rundown of some recent notable smart farming products and companies innovating electrified and autonomous solutions.
The electric economy is ready to roll into town this decade as battery technology improves, renewable power generation expands and automakers buy in to a future powered by something other than gasoline and diesel.
The U.S. Department of Energy believes solar could provide up to 40% of the country’s electricity by 2035. However, it’s estimated 5.7 million acres of land will be needed.
Agrivoltaics combines installation of solar panels in rural areas on elevated structures so as to permit co-location of agricultural activity, such as grazing animals or production of horticultural crops underneath.
There are efforts underway to mitigate the concern about losing farmland to solar panels. One of these is agrivoltaics, which is combining agriculture with solar installations, and it’s already turning heads in Canada.
By 2030, farmers will be using electricity made on their land to produce fertilizer and a diesel alternative, says Larry Kearns, founder of TrackerSled.
Since states have majority control of utility policies and rates, the differences between renewable and fossil fuel-generated electricity is dramatic. California has a duck curve for electricity demand and solar supply.
Sen. Anderson introduced a resolution last Friday aimed at phasing out electric vehicle sales in Wyoming by 2035. The resolution was referred to the state’s minerals committee, who tabled it until 2024.
“The goal is to gather data and best practices to deploy the sites to farms across the country, widening the scope of land for solar developers and providing farmers with another revenue stream,” the program manager says
International Energy Agency sees an extra 2,400 gigawatts of capacity coming online worldwide over the next five years, with renewables surpassing coal as the largest source of global power generation by 2025.
U.S. Solar Has a $1.5 Billion, Long-Shot Plan to End a Trade War
“Before the war with Ukraine, the President encouraged Russia to produce more oil to help us lower the price at the pump,” says U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS). “That’s so hypocritical.”
For Indiana farmer Tom McKinney, adding solar to his farm was a “no brainer.” The output from the installation meets his drying demand for half a million bushels.
If you’re looking at various energy options as an alternative to electricity, consider the time might be right to use solar panels to power your farm. A six-part webinar series later this month will help you evaluate Photovoltaic (PV) panels and whether they could be a good fit. The panels “convert sunlight into electricity and are installed on a roof or placed on the ground,” according to Extension
Global trade is taking center stage as chief executives from 60 nations are gathering in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum (WEF) this week.