Big Grower January 2023 - 18

BUSINESS
projects to reduce
energy consumption.
" Our cogeneration
Wheatfield Gardens purchased an existing 12 ½-acre greenhouse in 2016
and transitioned the facility to grow high-value crops. Photo courtesy of
Wheatfield Gardens.
and other state agencies. There are usually
officials who can help in acquiring grants and
rebates. Make sure the equipment that is being
considered for installation qualifies for the grants
and rebates. "
TRANSITIONING TO HIGH-VALUE
CROPS
Wheatfield Gardens in North Tonawanda, New
York, began operating in 2016 when it purchased
an existing 12 ½-acre glass greenhouse.
" For six years we have been transitioning the
facility to grow high-value crops, " says Paal
Elfstrum, founder and CEO. " In 2018 we began
growing cannabinoid hemp, leafy greens and
herbs. Now that New York state has legalized
adult-use cannabis, we have obtained a license to
produce that crop.
" We received our license to produce adult-use
cannabis in April 2022 and we immediately started
growing the crop. We are currently operating under
a provisional license for adult-use cannabis. Based
on permanent regulations issued by the state, [it]
will determine the canopy size that we can operate.
We have been granted 100,000 square feet, but
we'd like to increase production space to 200,000
square feet. The state is trying to control the
market so that there is no overproduction. They're
limiting the canopy size for any one licensee. "
COMMITTED TO BEING MORE ENERGY
EFFICIENT, SUSTAINABLE
Wheatfield Gardens has worked with New
York State Energy Research and Development
Authority (NYSERDA) on several improvement
18 JANUARY 2023
project which occurred
in 2018-2019 was
the first one that we
worked with NYSERDA
on, " Elfstrum says.
" It took a year to put
in the cogeneration
system. NYSERDA has a
long-standing program
that incentivizes the
efficient installation
of cogeneration. The
incentive is contingent
upon running the cogeneration plant at an overall
thermal efficiency of 65%. This means electricity
is being produced with an appropriate amount
of heat being recovered from the electrical
production, including engine friction and exhaust
heat. We capture all sources of thermal energy
and are able to exceed that 65% threshold
allowing us to achieve the financial incentives
through the system's performance. "
Wheatfield Gardens' most recent project with
NYSERDA used the GLASE Greenhouse Database &
Benchmark Tool. The company worked with NYSERDA
to conduct a full energy audit to compare its energy
usage with other growers in the state.
" We also want to work with NYSERDA on battery
storage for our cogeneration system, so that we
can operate a true microgrid, " Elfstrum says. " This
would enable us to run the engine, and, if there
LEARN MORE ABOUT
REVOLUTION FARMS
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https://glase.org/benchmark/ https://glase.org/benchmark/ https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2022/index.php#/p/6 https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2022/index.php#/p/6 https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/ https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/ https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/

Big Grower January 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Big Grower January 2023