The tour was held to educate Spring Mill residents about the benefits of solar energy and how they can go solar if interested.
“There’s never been a better time for businesses to use the power of the sun to electrify their businesses,” said Madeleine Hepting, organizer for PennEnvironment. “Plentiful sunshine and generous solar incentives are here. Now more businesses in Pennsylvania just need to take advantage of them.”
In 2019, Burkholder’s Country Market worked with SunDirected to install a 581 kW solar carport system with over 1,200 panels.
The carport produces enough energy to offset two-thirds of their annual energy usage. The carport system also powers free electric vehicle charging stations available for market customers.
“Electricity production is not my main job, we sell groceries,” said Russ Burkholder, owner of Burkholder’s Country Market. “The majority of our money goes into running our store. So, there’s only a certain amount that you can afford to put on a project like solar panels. That’s where tax incentives and grants when they become available really push you over the hump to do it.”
Burkholder’s Country Market was able to go solar with the partial funding by the SEP (Solar Energy Program) grant.
The solar carport delivers significant savings to Burkholder’s Country Market on their monthly electricity bill to the tune of about $6,000.
Other businesses that want to follow suit have the added benefit of solar energy tax credits that can dramatically lower the price tag for going solar.
Solar Carports, like the one at Burkholder’s Country Market, are a great solution for businesses looking to maximize their available space while investing in clean energy.
Not only do they provide shelter for vehicles from the elements, they also generate renewable energy that directly powers the business.
“We have a solar array that powers our own municipal buildings,” said Katie Blume, Millheim Borough Council President and the Political & Legislative Director of Conservation PA. “We’re able to have credits on our bills as we go through the year making significant cost savings for the taxpayers of Millheim Borough. And so we’re really looking for both state and federal solutions to keep things like tax credits going to help provide incentives and to do some really innovative work. We know that this is helping and we’re very appreciative of the work that Russ did here at Burkholder’s.”
Solar energy is abundant, efficient and increasingly affordable, and small businesses are often great candidates for rooftop solar panels.
Harnessing more energy from the sun would mean cleaner air, a more stable climate, less strain on natural resources, and an energy source we can depend on to be virtually pollution-free for as long as we can imagine.
Plus, going solar increases energy independence and reliability and allows businesses to save a ton of money on their utility bills.
Right now, Pennsylvania is currently ranked 26th in the nation for solar power.
Russ Burkhodler hopes that their solar carport can inspire other small businesses across Pennsylvania to follow their lead, choose clean energy, and help Pennsylvania become a solar leader.
PennEnvironment is holding events like this throughout the state to help spread the word about the benefits of going solar so that more businesses, houses of worship, nonprofits, and individuals can invest in a clean energy future too.
Resource Links:
-- How your house of worship can go solar: New federal tax credits are helping churches, synagogues, temples, and other houses of worship go green with solar energy.
-- Clean Energy Home Toolkit: Guides & resources for weatherizing your home, cutting energy bills, buying an electric car, and information on financial incentives.
[Posted: March 26, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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