ONTARIO, CANADA -- Just the other side of Lake Ontario, in Canada, farmers are growing more than fruits and vegetables. Thousands of farmers are hoping to harvest solar power this year.
Scott Swain is putting in his farm's newest cash crop. "This is the future of farming, the future of us farming the sun."
In Ontario, farmers can set up small solar energy systems and get a 20 year contract guaranteeing any power produced will be purchased at lucrative rates. It's part of a provincial initiative to generate more green energy, while at the same time, stimulating the solar industry.
On the Swain family farm, the system cost about $100,000, but should generate $13,000 worth of power a year. A lot of farms have jumped on the concept and are going to produce, or build, these systems to back the grid. So many farmers are jumping in, there is now a substantial backlog of applications.
Income from green energy. An idea growing this spring in Ontario and growing beyond all expectations.
