Newton Community Farm Gets Solar Power Panels To Grow Crops

NEWTON, MA – Newton Community Farm has completed the installation of a 10.8kW array of solar panels on their barn located at 303 Nahanton St.

The solar panels – completed in partnership with the city of Newton, Newton Community Farm, Resonant Energy, and ACE Solar – will provide renewable energy for the farm’s operations, allowing them to grow crops and power other activities with clean energy.

The new system has been up and running as of May 6, when the farm and elected officials – including Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and Massachusetts' Agriculture Commissioner Ashley Randle – held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new solar system.

For Newton Community Farm, the solar project is the culmination of many years of work and persistence from farm staff, supporters, volunteers, and their board of directors.

“We model and teach sustainable farming for the community. Running on solar allows us to further reduce our carbon footprint while stewarding this beautiful open space, the last working farm in Newton,” Sue Bottino, Executive Director at Newton Community Farm, said in a news release.

Conversations about adding solar to the south-facing barn roof go back to 2019, when Newton Community Farm first engaged Resonant Energy to look at solar feasibility and financial analysis. Costs for the solar array are covered largely by a Climate Smart Agriculture Program grant from the Mass Department of Agriculture.

The new solar array has an estimated annual production of 13,291 kWh alongside 16 kWh of backup battery storage, and was designed to offset Newton Community Farm’s electricity needs, allowing them to run their operations solely on sustainable energy.

“We are honored to have been selected by the City of Newton to install this system.” Nick Moore, Project Manager with ACE Solar, said in the release. “While we install many residential, commercial, and municipal systems of varying sizes, being able to help a community with a passion for sustainability make the switch to solar holds a special place in our heart.”