Monday, November 02, 2009

Vern and Gianaclis (gee-AHN-ih-clees) Caldwell grow their own electricity with the Nigerian dwarf goats whose milk goes into their cheeses.

The Caldwells say when they started the farm in Oregon, they wanted to be responsible for their own energy. They installed solar panels, a small hydroelectric generator and a wood-fired boiler.

The farm is completely off the grid, which is rare. But Stephanie Page at the Oregon Department of Agriculture says more farms are taking advantage of an array of grants and tax credits available to install renewable energy.

Vern Caldwell says people keep trying to make renewable energy about money. He says it's really "just something that needs to be done."