Solar firm looks to take farm concept beyond New Brunswick

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On Tuesday, a Norton-area farm unveiled its new micro solar installation, part of what The Smart Energy Company calls a close relationship with farmers in the Maritimes.

But the Quispamsis-based company has eyes on other markets too, as at the same time crews were installing its “NorEaster” solar kit in Ontario. Jeff McAloon, chief development officer, called the Noreaster structure “a package that helps address all those problems” of rising electricity costs, grid stability and emissions reductions.

“We’ve been helping farmers in New Brunswick since 2016 and we’ve learned a lot about some of the challenges that they have,” McAloon said. “We’ve done lots of NorEaster installations in New Brunswick and now we’re ready to expand beyond Atlantic Canada.”

Saint John Rothesay MP Wayne Long was on hand Tuesday to announce $500,000 in federal money on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, in order to support the Smart Energy Company’s expansion in other markets.

“Atlantic Canada has significant competitive advantages in key industries of the future, in particular, clean energy,” Long said in a speech. “Our government is making investments to help the region attract companies focused on diversifying the economy, creating jobs, and transitioning to a low-carbon future.”

He called it “unbelievable and exciting” and said that if you talk to local energy firms, “it’s the future,” saying climate change will make grid instability more of a concern.

McAloon said that the funding will help the firm with marketing to access the Ontario market, including hiring for business development, marketing resources and attending more agricultural trade shows to get the word out.

“Being able to market our solution beyond the borders of New Brunswick is certainly a challenge,” McAloon said. “So much has changed about solar in the last few years, so first and foremost we educate about how solar can address those challenges.”

He called the NorEaster a robust platform that comes with a 50-year warranty and withstood a “direct hit” from Hurricane Fiona in 2022. The system generates $900,000 of electricity over its lifetime, amounting to “pre-paying” at a rate half as expensive. He said it would help the farm reduce 1.2 million kg in emissions over its lifetime.

“It’s the most robust, it’s meant to last generationally, which is how farmers think,” he said.

Jesse Mitham, Rothiemay Farms co-owner, said he was connected to Smart Energy Company through a friend who had also gotten into solar energy years earlier.

“Dairy farmers and Egg Farmers of Canada want us to be zero emissions by 2050 and we just want to do our part,” Mitham said. “With the rising cost of electricity, we can stabilize the price we’re going to pay going forward. It helps us put our outputs down and it’s going to be good for many years.”

Co-owner Bruce Mitham said the land it’s on was “pretty marginal” and was used as a pasture previously.

“I truly believe that this is the way of the future,” Jesse Mitham said. “Somebody had to start it around here and we were them, and I think there’ll be a lot to follow us.”

McAloon said New Brunswick farmers have been able to be “nimble,” and their close relationship has given them a lot of data that can fine-tune their projections.

“We’re spreading that word that there is a strong strong business case to adopt solar in their business in addition to the environmental case,” he said.