EasternIowaFarmer_Fall2023
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
THE ENERGY ISSUE<br />
Harnessing the sun<br />
Rich & Joyce<br />
Noonan<br />
Otter Creek<br />
Rich and Joyce Noonan<br />
rely on solar power to fuel<br />
much of their house and<br />
farm operation. They are<br />
planning to add a battery<br />
to harness more energy<br />
from the sun.<br />
EASTERN IOWA FARMER<br />
PHOTO / BROOKE TILL<br />
Long-term benefits eclipse upfront<br />
costs for solar panels as rural<br />
residents look for energy alternatives.<br />
BY NANCY MAYFIELD<br />
EASTERN IOWA FARMER<br />
Rich and Joyce Noonan built<br />
the metal shed on their rural<br />
Zwingle farm 20 years<br />
ago, long before they had<br />
any thoughts about putting<br />
solar panels on the roof.<br />
But when they considered that possibility<br />
a few years later, it seemed fate<br />
was sending a signal.<br />
“We didn’t know the shed roof was<br />
going to be facing the perfect direction<br />
and that it would have the perfect pitch<br />
for solar panels. We were really fortunate,”<br />
Joyce said.<br />
Seventy panels are mounted on the<br />
south-facing expanse of their shed roof,<br />
providing the Noonan’s electricity for<br />
both their home and their grain and<br />
livestock operation. They are among<br />
farmers in Eastern Iowa who have<br />
installed ground- or roof-mounted solar<br />
panels with an eye toward harnessing a<br />
natural resource that provides reliable<br />
and efficient energy.<br />
“We do buy some electricity, but<br />
solar generates more than half of<br />
usage,” Joyce said. Their next project is<br />
to install a rechargeable battery to store<br />
eifarmer.com FALL 2023 | EASTERN IOWA FARMER 57
Change language