Warren McKenna at the Farmer’s Electric Cooperative’s solar array; photo courtesy of FEC

In October, the Farmer’s Electric Cooperative near Kalona added 2,880 new solar panels to their existing solar array, which made it the largest solar installation in Iowa. However, their claim to the crown was short-lived, as a slightly bigger solar array in Wilton was installed and began operations in January. Warren McKenna of Farmer’s Electric Cooperative says while it’s not necessarily a competition, they do have enough ground at the current installation to build more in the future and take back the title.

That may have to wait a few years, though, because McKenna says they’ll need to pay off their existing panels first, “So we’re on a seven-year contract, and once these are paid for in seven to 10 years, then the coop becomes the owner. They’re under a purchase power agreement, so it does take a few years to pay them off. I think solar’s dropping, (and) the tax credits may disappear, but it’s cheap enough now where we’re always looking at other options as well.” As the solar array currently stands, it provides nearly two megawatts of energy, which will power 200 homes for a year. To hear more about the Kalona solar array, listen to the Agriculture Magazine interview with McKenna.