Helping farmers access cheaper power with solar panels

Jan 17

Sonia Vinogradova, 25, and business partner, Joe Workentin, broke new ground, persuading regulators to allow solar panels on the barn roof of BeetBox Co-op Farm in Ontario. The panels will supply 20 per cent of the farm’s electricity. Photo submitted by Sonia Vinogradova

Sonia Vinogradova is helping small farmers gain more energy independence. This 25-year-old woman from Montreal and her business partner, Joe Workentin, broke new ground, persuading regulators to allow solar panels on the BeetBox Co-op Farm’s barn. The panels will supply 20 per cent of the farm’s electricity.

Tell us about your project.

Everyone knows that solar is cheap, efficient and reduces carbon pollution. But in Ontario, it is relatively new. People love eating local, organic foods packed with nutrients that come from small independent farmers, but it is difficult for these businesses to meet their operating costs and keep food prices down. With support from Student Energy, Joe and I formed Spark Source Consulting to work on both problems at once. Making solar power easily accessible met both goals, so we decided to focus our attention there. Student Energy gave us a grant to cover the costs of installation. Next, my partner Joe and I rolled up our sleeves.

We screened a number of possible installation sites but chose BeetBox because it grows organic food, is a locally-owned co-operative and treats its workers well.

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