EasternIowaFarmer_Fall2023
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THE ENERGY ISSUE<br />
Solar + wind = GREATER<br />
ENERGY EFFICIENCY<br />
Mike<br />
Duhme<br />
Wind and solar<br />
contribute to<br />
a substantial<br />
decrease in<br />
Mike Duhme’s<br />
monthly electric<br />
bill at Otter<br />
Creek Meats.<br />
EASTERN IOWA<br />
FARMER PHOTO /<br />
BROOKE TILL<br />
Zwingle<br />
Rural business owner who<br />
takes advantage of funding<br />
projects that help lower his<br />
electricity bill says he isn’t<br />
looking at the up-front expense<br />
as much as the future gains.<br />
BY NANCY MAYFIELD<br />
EASTERN IOWA FARMER<br />
The freezers at Otter Creek Meats<br />
run 24/7, and owner Mike Duhme<br />
has the utility bills to show the massive<br />
amount of power it takes to run<br />
his wholesale meat operation.<br />
But since he installed solar panels last year<br />
to supplement the energy needs at the Zwingle<br />
business, he’s shaved his electric bill – which<br />
could run up to $3,000 a month – by more than<br />
half.<br />
In the spring, he added a wind turbine on<br />
the property that he expects will make an even<br />
bigger impact.<br />
“Right now I have six compressors running<br />
and two chest freezers. I’ve got a lot of energy<br />
I’m using. I use a lot of kilowatts. My solar<br />
can’t keep up,” he said.<br />
His goal is to get his electric bill under $300<br />
a month.<br />
“I’d probably do a dance in the street if that<br />
Cement Gravel Sand<br />
Bellevue Sand & Gravel<br />
Quarry Locations: Bellevue - LaMotte - St. Donatus - Springbrook - Otter Creek<br />
29427 Hwy. 52, Bellevue, IA • Open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.<br />
563-872-3886 • Home: 563-542-1124<br />
For quality concrete prices & service, call us when building your next:<br />
Hog confinement, cattle shed, pole building, barn, new house and everything in between!<br />
FREE ESTIMATES / RAdIo dISpATchEd / quAlITy concRETE And lIMESTonE<br />
FYI – Iowa State University says<br />
fall is the best time for planting!<br />
• Plants are starting to go dormant<br />
• Temperatures are cooling<br />
• Less watering required<br />
Come see our large selection of trees & shrubs!<br />
SHADE TREES FRUIT TREES<br />
EVERGREENS SHRUBS<br />
1723 11th St. • DeWitt, IA | (563) 659-5321<br />
Pictured is owner Bill Andresen<br />
with a Jumbo Mum!<br />
74 EASTERN IOWA FARMER | FALL 2023 eifarmer.com
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