Working with the city of Newton, Massachusetts, and Newton Community Farm, Resonant Energy and ACE Solar completed the installation of a 10.8 kW solar array with battery backup system on the barn at 303 Nahanton Street.
This state-of-the-art system will provide renewable energy for the farm’s operations, allowing them to power their activities and grow their crops with clean energy. The system is officially up and running, with a ribbon cutting ceremony taking place at the farm earlier this month. Newton Community Farm places a big emphasis on sustainability, so being able to grow crops on sustainable energy is an achievement in which they take great pride.
For Newton Community Farm, this solar project is the culmination of many years of work and persistence from the dedicated Farm staff, supporters, volunteers and board of directors.
“We model and teach sustainable farming for the community,” said notes Sue Bottino, executive director at Newton Community Farm. “Running on solar allows us to further reduce our carbon footprint while stewarding this beautiful open space, the last working farm in Newton.”
Conversations about adding solar on the perfectly south-facing barn roof go way back, and in 2019, 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.
This 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. Being able to operate on renewable energy while preserving the rich history of Angino Farm is of great importance to everyone with Newton Community Farm, ACE Solar, and Resonant Energy.
“We are honored to have been selected by the city of Newton to install this system,” said Nick Moore, project manager with ACE Solar.“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.”
— Solar Builder magazine
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