Coombs Family Farms Completes Solar Panel Addition at Production Hub

Coombs Family Farms, a subsidiary of Bascom Family Maple, has taken a major step towards sustainability at its Acworth, N.H.

The company has completed the transition to 1,200 solar panels on the rooftops of its production facility for final grid interconnection to a 500 kW AC system. The solar panels are expected to generate over 760,000 kWh annually, which will cover more than 75% of Coombs Family Farms’ annual electric needs for production.

“Environmental stewardship and sustainable forestry have been guiding principles at Coombs Family Farms since the 1800’s,” said Arnold Coombs, seventh-generation sugarmaker and head of Marketing at Coombs Family Farms. “The addition of solar energy is consistent with our values and will help us attain environmental sustainability goals essential to future generations.”

By adding clean energy to the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative grid through the new solar installation, the system offsets 541 metric tons of CO2, or the equivalent of taking 116 cars off the road, according to the company. 

Coombs Family Farms said it has now conserved more than 4,500 acres as farm and forest land. Other sustainable forestry efforts at Coombs Family Farms include health spouts to reduce the impact on maple trees, vacuum tubing to add efficiency and reverse osmosis to reduce carbon footprint.

Bascom Maple Farms has been producing maple syrup since 1853, and produces private label products for a number of retailers.

“The family adage that has guided us for seven generations endures: do right by the forest, and it will do right by you,” added Coombs. “In conserving this beautiful land that’s what we have done and what we will continue to do.”