Frank Carlson thanks the many people who made the array a reality. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)

It’s official—Carlson Orchards is now powered by the sun.

Last Friday, Franklyn Carlson of Carlson Orchards spoke to an audience of enthusiastic supporters at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the official connection from the one thousand-plus array of solar panels to the National Grid power supply, effectively spinning his meter backward by 70 percent or more against an $85,000 annual electric bill. Although some experts say it could provide as much as 80 percent of the farm’s energy consumption, Carlson says “it will take a year to know exactly how much it will provide.” The system will power two large-scale refrigeration buildings and the orchard’s cider press. (A spokesperson for Carlson Orchards says the orchard is New England’s largest producer of cider, producing more than 500,000 gallons of cider annually.)

As previously reported in the Press (see related article April 30, 2010), Carlson Orchards embarked on an aggressive campaign to obtain federal and state incentives to fund extensive energy audits and to provide the money to design and construct the two-acre, 220-kilowatt, ground-mounted solar-array installation that will supply at least two-thirds of its power. According to EC3 Consulting, it is the largest photovoltaic system on a farm in Massachusetts. To navigate the thicket of utility, state, and federal incentives available for reducing energy costs, Carlson hired EC3 Consulting, a green energy consulting firm founded by Symantha Gates, a former longtime Harvard resident. Gates successfully obtained nearly $900,000 for the $1.2 million system. Once obtained, there were time limits on using the money to complete the project.

From left: Commissioner of the Mass. Department of Agriculture Scott Soares, State Senator Jamie Eldridge, Director of Rural Development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Jay Healey, U.S. Representative Niki Tsongas, Frank Carlson, Robert Carlson, President of EC3 Consulting Samantha Gates, Bruce Carlson, and David Weiher prepare to cut the ribbon and throw the switch on the solar panel array.

Speakers laud project

In attendance for the ceremony were several lawmakers, state and federal officials, and nonprofit organizations that helped make the project come true. Stepping up to the podium, Symantha Gates spoke eloquently of her respect and admiration for farmers, having witnessed at the orchard the hard work it takes to successfully run a farm. “It takes 10 years for an apple tree to turn a profit,” she said.

Carlson spoke next, acknowledging Gates for her vision and her encouragement, and expressed gratitude for her ability to manage the construction project so that he could remain focused on running the farm. Carlson surmised that his parents, who started the farm in the 1930s, would certainly be scratching their heads to see apple trees being cut down to make way for concrete pilings, but that after incorporating the farm as a family business in the 1970s, the parents always let them (he and brothers Robert and Bruce) take the lead with new products and new approaches. The farm converted from potatoes to apples in 1960, and “here we are in 2010, dedicating a photovoltaic facility,” said Carlson.

A crowd of well wishers gathers next to the new solar array at Carlson Orchards on Oak Hill Road for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the largest agriculture solar array in the state.

The first guest speaker, Niki Tsongas (in her second term as representative of the fifth congressional district of Massachusetts), was then introduced as a “champion of renewable energy and agricultural sustainability.” Tsongas spoke of how she developed her interest in the more than 500 farms in the fifth district, and her appreciation for their contribution to the economy. Her staff had worked with Carlson to help obtain some of the grant money. Referencing our dependence on fossil fuels, global warming, and the gulf oil spill, she said, “There is much we need to do to make all of our businesses more sustainable and competitive.” Tsongas noted the participation of many other fifth district companies that contributed to completing the project, such as Evergreen Solar of Devens, Lighthouse Electrical of Rockland, Solectria of Lawrence, and the architects (Steven Kelleher) of Fairhaven. The monies obtained by the grants “ripples out to companies throughout Massachusetts,” she said.

Jay Healy, state director of the USDA rural development office, was introduced as an advocate of local sustainability initiatives, who has received environmental awards for innovations on his own family farm. He said his agency “was very pleased to be a small part of this partnership, having funded some of the energy efficiencies that were part of this huge project.”

Senator Jamie Eldridge spoke of the excitement of being able to harness solar energy to send into the grid. He spoke of the importance of diversification, including “raising solar energy with the use of these solar panels.” He acknowledged the government’s role in promoting alternative energy, citing the various agencies involved, such as the Massachusetts High Technology Collaborative and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Eldridge said he hopes this project can serve as a model of what can be accomplished across the state to better support farms.

Herb Aikens of Lighthouse Electrical Contracting recounted getting a call in January from Gates explaining her and Carlson’s vision. He was encouraged that they already had various grants and permits in place, and the owners were 100 percent on board, even knowing what size system to build. He thought, “Great, everything’s perfect! It’s too good to be true! You even have a feasibility study!” Then, he reported, Gates said, “However, we need to apply for a USDA equipment grant, next week. We need to have the project complete and operational by July 28.”

Sunshine cookies on hand to thank spectators for attending the ribbon cutting.

After the laughter subsided, Aikens said, “Just six months ago this project was just a concept. Six months ago there was snow on the ground. Six months ago there stood a stand of old crooked apple trees right here on this spot. Six months ago there was a dream of mine and Frank Carlson and Symantha Gates. Six months ago it looked like an impossible task to design, install, and interconnect the system in a tight time frame. But today we can celebrate the PV system is here and in operation. We can celebrate all the contributions from all the parties involved, starting with Stephen Kelleher Architects, the funding teams of Mass Clean Energy Center, Mass Department of Agriculture, and the USDA. We can celebrate our suppliers, Evergreen Solar, Solectria Renewables, and our installation team.” He also acknowledged the people working behind the scenes, such as Niki Tsongas, the support from the town of Harvard and the electrical inspector, and finally National Grid, who worked quickly to “get us up and running with new service and the interconnection agreements so we could be here today.” Aikens finished by expressing thanks that the system, “for the next 20 years, would be providing more than half the power this farm needs to operate, making it better prepared to survive in today’s Massachusetts economy.”

And with that, the audience followed Carlson and Gates to the connector shed, where Carlson cut the big yellow ribbon, opened the doors, and flipped the switch, sending the meter spinning backward.