A Massachusetts Dairy Farmer Earns $1,000 Weekly from Solar
Hunt runs a dairy farm covering hundreds of acres and keeps about 250 cows. His operations include the regular costs of feed, labour, veterinary care, machinery and electricity, while the price received for milk can vary. He has also sought to build a business that could support his children in the future.
The 11-acre tract was difficult to cultivate because of its terrain and condition. Walmart was reportedly interested in buying the property, but Hunt decided to keep ownership and make the land available for a solar project instead. The lease created recurring income without ending his dairy activities.
Massachusetts renewable-energy incentives, including solar subsidies and renewable-energy credits, supported the economics of the project. The parcel became part of a reported 3-megawatt installation that supplies power to Lowell. Under the lease, Hunt receives about $1,000 each week, or roughly $52,000 a year before taxes and other applicable costs.
Hunt had installed a separate solar system on the barn before leasing the larger parcel. The rooftop panels supplied electricity for water pumps, milk cooling, milking equipment and lighting. In an account of a 2015 visit, journalist John Nagy wrote that Hunt said the installation had almost eliminated a bill of approximately $1,400 per month and produced a small payment for surplus power sent to the grid during much of the year.
The rooftop system addressed an electricity expense that could otherwise total about $16,800 annually. The potential financial result depends on factors including the system’s capacity, installation and financing costs, maintenance, power consumption and electricity tariffs. A solar land lease also involves terms covering its duration, access to the grid, land use, environmental matters and the farmer’s contractual obligations.
Solar was one element of Hunt’s broader diversification efforts. He also sold firewood and hay and invested in local real estate. He connected other farmers with a solar consultant, according to Nagy’s account. The initiative allowed him to use a marginal agricultural parcel for energy infrastructure while continuing to produce milk on the rest of the farm.
