Center pivots: big load, short season
Electric irrigation wells run hard from late spring through summer, which matches peak solar production. But pumps usually sit on their own meters, often with irrigation rates or demand charges, and net metering is generally tied to one meter. Before designing a pump-offset array, we ask your co-op how it credits exports and whether it allows meter aggregation.
Groundwater availability in parts of the plains is declining, and some operations are cutting pumped acres. An array sized for today’s pumping may be oversized in ten years, so we look at your long-term water plans before recommending a size.
Dryland farms: shops, bins and the house
Dryland wheat and grazing operations use much less electricity, concentrated in shops, grain drying and aeration, livestock water and the farmhouse. A modest rooftop array on a shop or a small ground mount sized to those year-round loads is usually the practical option.
Grain drying can create short, sharp demand spikes in fall. If your co-op bills demand charges, we look at whether a battery could trim those peaks, and we’ll tell you if the numbers don’t support it.
Federal programs in 2026
As of September 2026, USDA REAP grants are paused while USDA rewrites its rules; REAP guaranteed loans remain open. Rooftop solar on farm buildings is eligible, while ground-mounted solar over 50 kW has been excluded or deprioritized. Commercial solar can still qualify for the §48E federal credit if it’s placed in service by December 31, 2027, or construction began by July 4, 2026, and 100% bonus depreciation has been restored. Talk to your CPA and verify current terms.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Can solar offset my center-pivot irrigation bill?
It can, since pumping and solar production both peak in summer. Whether it pays depends on your co-op’s crediting rules, the meter setup and how long you expect to keep pumping at current levels.
Is solar worth it on a dryland wheat farm?
Usually only for the shop, bins, livestock water and house, where power is used year-round. We size a smaller system to those loads.
Can I combine several farm meters under one solar array?
Only if your utility allows meter aggregation. Many net-metering rules apply meter by meter, so we check with your co-op before designing.
Are USDA REAP grants open for plains farm solar in 2026?
Not as of September 2026. Grants are paused, but guaranteed loans remain available. Rooftop systems on farm buildings are eligible, and ground mounts over 50 kW have been excluded or deprioritized.