Oya Organic Farms, an organic vegetable farm in Hollister, received a $76,446 grant from California Climate Investments through the Renewable Energy for Agriculture Program that, together with a 76 percent match from the farm, will finance the installation of solar panels to power an irrigation pump and storage/office building. Their new 27‑kilowatt solar system allows the farm to use zero‑emission electricity for their domestic well and re‑invest energy savings towards the farm. Furthermore, a standalone 6.4‑kilowatt solar system coupled with battery storage will power the off‑grid produce storage room and office on the farm.

Oya Organic Farms was founded in 2012 and is owned and operated by Marsha Habib, a first‑generation minority woman, whose agricultural and business practices are centered on environmental sustainability. The farm has grown from one acre to more than 25 acres in size and rotates between almost 50 annual crops, from strawberries to onions, while allowing weeds and insects to coexist in a healthy ecosystem. Ms. Habib sells her produce to local farmers markets, restaurants, and stores looking for fresh organic produce.

Oya Organic Farms is committed to applying the same sustainable management standards and minimizing its carbon footprint. The installation of this solar system allows the farm to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy reliability, and lower demand for grid electricity and associated energy costs. Ms. Habib reports, “The obvious reason to choose renewable energy is because we are an organic farm and our principles are to grow food for our local community using local resources and local inputs and nutrient cycling. We want to reduce our use of petroleum‑based products and things that are polluting.”