SAN LUIS VALLEY — Conservation has long been the lifeblood of agriculture. Unlike many industries, agriculture’s key inputs are non-renewable resources such as soil and water. Building from a strong dedication to conservation, local farm, Bartee Ranch, has gone solar.
Thanks to the help of Charlie McGarity of PPC Solar in Taos, N.M. and Kathy Lee of Rio Grande Savings and Loan, Bartee Ranch is able to reduce its carbon footprint by installing solar arrays to offset their annual electricity usage.
“We have a long history of being conservationists; that is what has allowed our generational farm to be around for going on 100 years! If my great-grandfather, grandfather, and dad had not stewarded this land, my wife and I would not be farming today, and my boys would not be looking forward to carrying on our legacy!” said Dale Bartee.
Although the solar arrays will not take the farm entirely off the electrical grid, over the course of the year, the panels will replace all of the farm’s electricity usage.
“This project would not have been possible without the help of Charlie from PPC Solar,” remarked Deanna. Charlie and his crew helped obtain a USDA grant that reimbursed 25 percent of the project’s costs and found tax credits to ensure the project was financially feasible.
Lee also assisted in the project by helping the farm access the funding necessary for the remainder of the project. Dale and Deanna also acknowledged the cooperation and assistance of Loren Howard and his staff at the San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative concluding that, “agriculture is truly a cooperative endeavor!”
Despite the never-ending challenges that agriculturists face, the future seems bright for Bartee Ranch.