Moorit Hill Farm Goes Solar to Maintain Age-Old Farming Tradition

Moorit Hill Farm and Fibre begins first summer of renewable energy operations

PUBLISHED ON July 8, 2024

BANGOR, Maine — Some look forward to Independence Day as the start of the lazier days of summer, a time for vacations, hikes and perhaps time spent by the sea. On the other hand, many Maine farmers are entering their busiest season with long days of work. At Moorit Hill Farm and Fiber in the central Maine town of Troy, this July will also bring long days of energy production. Earlier this year, the farmers added a 41-kilowatt solar array to their roof, paid for in part by a grant from the Rural Energy for America Program. The grant was awarded by USDA Rural Development, whose Maine state director, Rhiannon Hampson, toured the farm and fiber mill Wednesday.

“As we celebrate this holiday weekend, it’s important to acknowledge the hard work that goes on all around us in the agricultural sector,” said Hampson during his visit to the farm. “Whether you’re craving strawberries and cream, fried chicken, grilled burgers or a cold beer this weekend, Maine farmers are putting in long hours every day to provide us with local options. I’m especially grateful for the many farmers, like Elizabeth and Josh of Moorit Hill, who go above and beyond to maintain the clean air, land and waters that make Maine so special. Not only do their products make our holiday celebrations more enjoyable, but their work helps preserve Maine’s lands and heritage for generations to come.”

Josh Emerman and Elizabeth Goundie raise Icelandic sheep for meat and fiber at Moorit Hill Farm, which they founded in 2017. (They also offer lambs for breeding.) They initially took the wool to the former Aroostook Fiberworks for processing, and when that Ashland-based producer closed, they bought the milling equipment. In early 2023, they began offering custom fiber processing on-site in Troy and have been expanding their milling operation ever since.

The couple has also increased their meat and fleece production, and their herd now numbers more than 70. Locally raised lambs are in high demand, and the mill is busy processing wool from farms across Maine and beyond. Still, managing farm expenses and turning a profit can be tough, especially in a labor-intensive, electricity-driven business like a mill. Add to that the rapidly rising cost of electricity, and suddenly margins began to shrink.

Goundie and Emerman turned to advisors from the Small Business Association and Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (a community development financial institution) to develop a business plan that would ensure the farm would remain sustainable. Going solar gave them a chance to save money on their energy bills while also offsetting the carbon footprint of the equipment they used at the mill. The math added up—IF they could find a way to reduce the project’s costs. With the help of a solar installer (SolarLogix of Belfast), they successfully applied for a USDA REAP grant that covered about half of the project’s costs.

Today, solar panels cover most of one side of the sheepfold, generating about enough energy to power 4.5 typical homes. The project was completed just five months ago, so the farmers are eagerly awaiting their first summer of peak solar generation. “When we opened our fiber mill, we knew we had to do something about our high energy consumption,” said co-owner Josh Emerman. “We decided to use solar to offset that use and align our values ​​with our operations. We now power our farm and mill exclusively with solar energy.”

Shelley Megquier, director of policy and research at Maine Farmland Trust, notes that farm production costs have risen 24 percent over the past five years, even as farms have struggled through years of drought and excessive rainfall. “Renewable energy options can help reduce farm costs and carbon emissions, but the financial barriers are often high for farms already struggling economically,” Megquier says. “Through REAP, we’ve seen Maine farms eagerly take advantage of co-pay options that allow them to significantly reduce their farm energy costs by installing energy-efficient heating and rooftop solar panels, while also reducing their carbon footprint.”

“I sometimes joke that people should thank a farmer on the Fourth of July because so many of the Minutemen who fought for American independence were farmers with pitchforks,” said Hampson. “But really, we owe it to farmers and food producers every day to recognize their tireless work. The pandemic has made us all realize how important it is to ensure the diversity of local food producers. USDA programs like REAP can help food producers remain economically viable.”

Moorit Hill Farm and Fiber sells its products primarily at the Blue Hill Farmers’ Market, as well as at special events like the Maine Fiber Frolic. (The farmers plan to wholesale their yarn in the future and are currently looking for potential retail partners.) You’ll find them selling a variety of yarns, handmade hats, sheepskins, and lamb cuts at the market from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every Saturday through October. Goundie notes that the farm has a growing following of foodies who seek out Icelandic lamb for its delicate flavor. To help fans stock up, they’re already taking orders (online or at the market) for whole lamb cuts, which will be ready for pickup at the farm in October.

About REAP

The Department expects to make additional awards in the coming months. The next REAP application deadline is September 30, 2024. For additional information on application deadlines and application details, see the REAP fact sheet or contact Katrina Shaw, USDA Rural Development Maine State Energy Coordinator (email [email protected] or call 207-990-9129).

–USDA, Maine Department of Rural Development