Cary Blake 1, Editor

December 5, 2014

6 Slides

Arizona is the land of brilliant, warming sunshine about 330 sunny days a year. This means 11 of the 12 months are nearly cloudless in the Grand Canyon State.

With the abundant sunshine in the West, harnesing solar power by agriculture continues as a rapidly-growing part of sustainable farm business models. West Coast wineries were likely the first agricultural enterprises to turn on the sun switch and turn off the power grid.

While in college, Eric Glomski discovered a need to be socially and environmentally responsible in the process of making a living. 

After working for a winery in California, Glomski moved to Arizona and today is the vineyard owner and winemaker at Page Springs Cellars and Vineyards. The winery just became Arizona's first winery to go solar.

State and federal funding of about $100,000 in incentives - about a quarter-to-a-third of the solar system cost - will help provide up to 85 percent of the winery’s annual power needs.

Enjoy these photos from the Page Springs operation in Cornville, located southwest of Flagstaff.

 

About the Author(s)

Cary Blake 1

Editor, Western Farm Press

Cary Blake, associate editor with Western Farm Press, has 32 years experience as an agricultural journalist. Blake covered Midwest agriculture for 25 years on a statewide farm radio network and through television stories that blanketed the nation.
 
Blake traveled West in 2003. Today he reports on production agriculture in California and Arizona.
 
Blake is a native Mississippian, graduate of Mississippi State University, and a former Christmas tree grower.

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