Eichten’s Hidden Acres

Eichten’s Hidden Acres is a family-owned cheese and buffalo ranch that has been producing award-winning artisan cheeses and American Bison products in Center City, Minnesota since 1976. Eichten’s is also home to more than 15,000 solar panels, powering its farm and generating electricity for the surrounding community.

The farm leases land to New Energy Equity, which partners with local subscribers who receive credits on their electric utility bill for the energy generated by the solar project. New Energy Equity’s expertise and experience with the solar development process made this an easy decision for an organization committed to energy efficiency and healthy farming.

“This was the first one we did in the area, so they had a lot of questions to answer, and we always got the answers we needed,” said Ed Eichten, the landowner. “We are going to produce a lot of electricity here.”

“Because this was a new program, we walked him through every step of the process from permitting through construction,” said Jamie Borell, Senior VP of Policy for New Energy Equity. “We couldn’t be happier to provide for his family with a 25-year income stream that he can pass on to the next generation.”

“I thought this was a very good idea not only for me, but it would be good for the environment,” said Eichten, “working with New Energy Equity has been great.”