The number of solar power panels, methane digesters and wind generators on America's farms and ranches has grown substantially in the last decade and there are now 8,569 operations producing their very own renewable energy, based on the outcomes from the 2009 On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey released a week ago.
Organized by the United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, this was the first countrywide survey that focused on an alternative energy practices on USA's ranches and farms.
Based on the survey outcomes, solar panels were essentially the most prominent method to produce on-farm energy. In 2009, farmers on 7,968 operations nationwide reported using thermal solar and photovoltaic panels. The use of wind generators was registered by farmers on 1,420 operations across 48 states. The use of methane digesters was registered by 121 operations in 29 states.
California leads the nation with 1,956 operations producing alternative energy, accounting almost a quarter of all operations in the United States participating in this practice. Texas, Colorado and Hawaii had been the other main states where farmers on at least 500 or more operations had been generating their own renewable energy.
The survey outcomes also demonstrate an economic upside to producing power on the farm. Farmers in each state registered savings on their bills. The savings were in particular noticeable in New York, where electricity bill savings registered by respondents topped $5,000 for 2009.