Poultry Farmer in Timberville, VA Installs Large Solar System

Timberville, VA | 173.6 kW System

David Hughes is the owner of Rivermont Farm, a turkey farm in Timberville, Virginia.

In the summer of 2016, David was beginning to look for energy alternatives to combat his steadily growing electricity costs, which were averaging $ 4k to $ 5k a month.

Watch as David explains the financial impact his solar panel investment had on his farm and why he chose Paradise Energy Solutions.

Project Details

Financial Impact

Total System Cost

Savings

Total Savings

-$0

Net Cost (after incentive)

Financial impact figures are not available for this project.

Financial Highlights

60% installation cost covered by tax credits & grants
7 yr. expected time for system payback
11.2% ROI

System Overview

560 solar panels and 28 inverters

173.6 kW System

Production: 216,513 kWh annually

Environmental Impact

Tons of CO2 Offset / Year:

168.4

Tree Offset / Year:

3,919

Barrels of Oil Offset / Year:

355

Benefits of Solar Panels for Rivermont Farms

The production from the solar panels covers 95% of the farm’s electricity needs
We took care of all the logistics and paperwork for David
The system will provide 25+ years of free electricity after the expected payback period is reached

Testimonial

"I think Paradise is very easy to work with. I'm glad you have a presence in the valley now, in Harrisonburg with the office there. I will continue to recommend and refer people to Paradise."

David Hughes

Rivermont Farms

Enough Power for the Farm Operations and Farmhouse

David is able to power his four turkey houses, which have a combined total of thirty-four 52” tunnel fans. These fans run constantly to keep more than 110,000 turkeys cool in the warm Virginia summer months. Plus, they still generate enough electricity to power his home. Solar power virtually eliminated his electricity bill.

“I’ll have my own little power plant” – David Hughes, The Washington Times.

What truly excited David about his new solar system was the investment in solar power in general. After watching a few other farms in Rockingham County make the switch to solar energy, David recognized the immediate environmental and financial impact solar would have for his business.

David expressed that the federal tax credit he will receive over the next few years is reason enough to invest in solar power.

Benefits for Rivermont Farm

As a green alternative to fossil fuels, the energy production of solar power has zero byproducts or pollutants, which makes solar systems ideal for farms that house livestock.

Summer heat can be detrimental to your livestock’s health and keeping them cool is essential. Being able to cool his turkey houses around the clock for free keeps his flock healthy while preserving the environment.

Smart Investment

After contacting us to conduct a free onsite evaluation, the only hesitation David had was about the upfront investment.

This apprehension was eliminated when David saw how the federal tax credit lowered the upfront investment, how much of the process and paperwork Paradise would handle for him, and the comprehensive warranties covering the panels and inverters.

Despite not being awarded a USDA grant that would have further offset his initial investment, David approached his local lender who also saw the benefits of investing in solar power. Once financing was secured, David was able to sit back while we took care of all the logistics and paperwork, as well as the installation. We also completed site optimization, which included communication with the local electric company to update all of David’s meters.