Freedom Cannabis Installs Major Solar Power Plant
The cannabis industry in Canada is known for its high energy consumption. Producing 500 grams of cannabis from indoor-grown material using traditional cultivation methods requires about 2,000 kWh of electricity. To reduce costs, commercial enterprises have started turning to alternative energy sources.
Cannabis to Be Grown Using Solar Energy
Canadian cannabis company Freedom Cannabis has built one of the country’s largest solar power plants. The facility consists of 4,574 solar panels capable of generating up to 1,830 kWh. Co-founder Troy Dezwart commented on the project’s completion: “We have a responsibility to minimize the environmental impact of cannabis cultivation. Installing solar panels will save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1,041 tons.”
Solar Power Plant to Pay for Itself in Eight Years
The construction of the solar facility cost $2.5 million. Freedom Cannabis expects to save about $300,000 per year on electricity bills, meaning the company will start profiting from the solar panels after eight years. However, solar energy will account for only 8% of the company’s total electricity consumption.
Most licensed Canadian cannabis companies grow their crops indoors, while 70% of illegal growers cultivate cannabis outdoors. As a result, cannabis on the black market is on average 40% cheaper than in stores.
Cannabis Farms Worsen Environmental Situation
The electricity consumed by American cannabis farms in 2017 would have been enough to power 92,500 households. Canadian companies used as much electricity in the same period as 1.7 million households. The situation is expected to worsen, as research agency New Frontier Data predicts that the cannabis industry’s electricity consumption will increase by 162% by 2022.
California scientists claim that outdoor cannabis cultivation also harms the environment, as farmers destroy animal habitats and use large amounts of water for irrigation, leading to the drying up of water bodies and river pollution. The government of New Mexico was the first to address these issues by developing legislation to regulate cannabis cultivation, with a state committee overseeing compliance.