One Acre Farm is a 34-acre farm in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve. The farm’s mission is to deliver organically grown vegetables to their local community, while minimizing the impact on the environment.

The 28.52 kW rooftop solar PV system will produce 33,043 kWh of clean, renewable solar energy throughout the first twelve months of use. Over the next 20 years, the solar PV, installed by Paradise Energy, will avoid the consumption of 629,470 kWh of energy not sourced from the local utility provider, mitigating 468 metric tons of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. These energy savings will lead to projected savings of $94,280 over 20 years in reduced electricity bills for the building.

The Montgomery County Green Bank provided a direct loan of $95,330 to finance 100% of the cost of the new solar system at Free Rein Farm. This marks the second solar installation for the farm, which is owned and operated by the farmer and his wife. As with their first solar project, they also secured a USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) award covering 50% of the system’s cost, further reducing their financial burden. The new solar system is net metered, allowing any excess energy produced by the system that is not used on-site to be credited back to the farm, helping to further offset energy costs. By leveraging Green Bank financing and federal incentives, the farm continues to expand its commitment to clean energy and sustainability.

The Montgomery County Green Bank provided flexible and affordable financing through a $95,330 direct loan. By covering 100% of the project’s cost, the Green Bank enabled the farm to install its second solar system without upfront financial barriers.