The La Farge-based Organic Valley Cooperative is partnering with Clean Energy Credit Union to launch the Powering the Good Loan Fund to provide the best loan terms for farmers seeking to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels with renewable energy and efficiencies. The program is the first of its kind for both cooperatives, pioneering a unique clean energy loan fund for over 1,700 farmers across the country.
The groups will roll out a $1 million fund with plans to expand. As the nation's largest organic, farmer-owned cooperative, Organic Valley pulls carbon out of the air through regenerative practices like rotational grazing, while also working to reduce carbon emitted wherever possible.
"Organic Valley leads on renewable energy. We have been 100 percent renewable powered in our owned facilities since 2019, and now we are going a step further," said Organic Valley CEO Bob Kirchoff. "We are focused on a whole systems approach to renewable energy, and I'm excited to debut this energy loan fund. From the farm to the shelf, I see renewable energy playing a bigger role in organic food. We are providing farmers a means to reduce their energy costs and become more self-sufficient and sustainable. Farmers who participate in this loan fund contribute to a healthy, regenerative future for the next generation."
Loans can be used for solar electric systems to offset farm energy consumption, farm energy efficiency improvements or geothermal systems and ground-source heat pumps for farm heating and cooling.
The two cooperatives are experienced with advancing renewable energy and are now combining forces to accelerate renewable energy installations on farms across rural America.
Categories: Wisconsin, Sustainable Agriculture