ERIE COUNTY, Ohio – A family farming operation in Erie County is working to reduce its carbon footprint. A local farm chef’s garden has received $2.5 million from the state to support its energy-sufficient projects.
Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Development announced grants to six organizations in Cuyahoga, Erie, Franklin and Hamilton counties. The grants will be used for energy efficiency projects designed to reduce costs, improve the environment and improve the lives of people in Ohio communities.
“Each of these organizations plays a critical role in their communities, and these grants ensure they have the resources they need to continue their important work,” said Development Department Director Lidiya Mihalik. “By reducing energy costs, we provide the financial breathing room they need to innovate and enhance the vital services they provide to residents,” said Lidiya Mihalik, director of development.
Farmer Bob Jones and his family have been growing vegetables in Erie County for over 40 years. The farm grows 600 varieties of vegetables and ships them to restaurants and home consumers in all 50 states.
“This grant will allow us to expand our sustainable agriculture programs on the farm,” Jones said.
The money will be used to upgrade lighting and install a solar photovoltaic system.
“We capture solar energy from the sun and through photosynthesis we put that energy into the soil for the next crop. This soil here is going to be fall spinach, but we’re building energy in the soil,” Jones said.
According to Ohio State University, as energy prices rise, these costs take up a larger share of farm budgets. Many businesses are now considering new ways to manage energy use.
Jones said this project will allow them to generate 70% of their electricity needs on the farm.
“At a conservative estimate, that would save us 50% of our total electricity costs in a given year. It just gives us money to spend on other projects and its workers in processing or factories,” he said.
To help keep the farm viable and profitable for future generations.
“The concept behind it is really a paradigm shift in realizing that we didn’t inherit this land from our grandparents. We’re borrowing it from our grandchildren, and we have to leave it in a better condition than we found it,” Jones said.