Originally published July 29 2005
California farm irrigates fields by basking in solar power
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
According to Environmental Media Services, Teixeira Farms, one of the largest vegetable growers in the central coast of California, is irrigating 600 acres of their farmland through the use of a solar-powered irrigation system in an effort to ease pressure on the California power grid and reduce air pollution.
Now one of the region's largest vegetable growers, Teixeira Farms, is converting sunlight into electricity to irrigate 600 acres of farm land.
The nation's largest agricultural solar installation, a 112-kilowatt photovoltaic system, was officially connected today at Teixeira Farms, Ranch 7 near Guadalupe, California.
Approximately 2,500 MW of electricity is consumed by California farms for irrigation during peak demand periods -- hot afternoons from May through October.
"We all know that eating broccoli is good for you," said Bernadette Del Chiaro, Clean Energy Advocate with Environment California, the leading non-profit environmental group working to promote solar power.
A million farms, homes and businesses throughout California will be able to follow Teixeira's lead if the Million Solar Roofs bill, SB 1, passes the Assembly later this summer.
The bill, sponsored by Governor Schwarzenegger and authored by Senators Kevin Murray (Los Angeles) and John Campbell (Orange County) will provide ten years of financial incentives and enhanced consumer choice and protections to create a thriving, self-sufficient solar market by 2017.
Reaching this goal will result in more than 3,000 MW of installed solar power capacity helping ease California's growing energy needs.
The Million Solar Roofs bill was passed by the state Senate on June 1 with a vote of 30-5 which included the senator representing the Central Coast, Abel Maldonado.
"We reduce our need on foreign energy, we diversify and bring stability to the energy market, we reduce air pollution and it is cost effective.
Two policy committees in the state Assembly also recently passed the historic measure within the past two weeks.
"We are urging everyone to contact their Assemblymember and urge them to vote for the Million Solar Roofs bill," said Del Chiaro.
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