In just a few days the Vidalia Onion Festival will begin its 40th annual 4-day celebration.

Named a ‘Top 20’ event by the Southeast Tourism Society, the festival will feature the usual array of activities and fun for all ages and interests. Music, cooking, onion eating contests, air shows, outdoor movies, street dancing, and more – April 27 – 30th is shaping up to be the best weekend of 2017.

But this year, there’s another ‘array’ that will be making its first public appearance ever, courtesy of Georgia’s own Coastal Solar, a solar energy solutions company.

Get more info at http://coastalsolar.com/ or http://coastalsolar.com/12-month-power-bills/
As part of their inaugural appearance at the festival, Coastal Solar will be doing live demonstrations of ‘The Unit,’ the solar industry’s first ever mobile solar panel array.

The Unit was created for two reasons. First, it helps farmers save on energy costs through solar power. Before The Unit, solar energy simply wasn’t realistic for many farmers because their electricity usage happens at season-specific locations. Essential functions such as irrigation, certain forms of processing (like cotton gins) and cold storage don’t get used year round, but when they do, it happens simultaneously and sometimes miles apart.

Video: http://coastalsolar.com/videos-control-irrigation-activity/

The Unit cuts their electricity costs by tapping the sun’s energy where their farm needs it most. Then, when that task is complete, The Unit can be moved to provide power for other tasks. It’s a brand new concept – solar flexibility for agricultural electricity needs.

Second, The Unit gives farmers a way to avoid the unpleasant reality of load management. This is when peak power demands strain the electric grid, and the utility is forced to cut power temporarily to certain segments. Oftentimes, this burden falls on farms. When these unplanned power cuts happen at the wrong time, they can interrupt critical processes that support the livelihood of crops, farmers, and the consumers who depend on them.

With the aid of battery backups, The Unit can store up solar energy and then use it during these temporary brownouts, which occur most often in summer months between 2 – 7 pm.

Coastal Solar will be demonstrating The Unit at the Vidalia Onion Festival for all four days. Visitors can watch the fully-adjustable panels re-orient based on the position of the sun.

In addition to The Unit, Coastal Solar is also holding their first ever sweepstakes giveaway. It’s called the 12 Month Power Bills sweepstakes. There will be over $10,000 in prizes. To enter, participants must submit their last twelve months of power bills. Prizes include Benelli shotguns, Bahamas cruises, and cash. Anyone can register at 12MonthPowerBills.com.

The drawing will be held at 12 noon on Sunday, April 30th, the last day of the festival. There will be three winners, one from each category of agricultural, commercial, and residential.

Why twelve months of power bills?

Because twelve months of power bills is what it takes for Coastal Solar to provide a free solar energy quote. So even for people who don’t win the prizes, they still get a free solar estimate for their home, farm, or business.

Anyone curious about how solar would affect their utility bills would learn a lot from a free quote. And for three lucky winners, they’ll be studying their quote while sipping margaritas on their way to the Bahamas.

As springtime outdoor activities go, the 40th Annual Vidalia Onion Festival is a can’t-miss event. With Coastal Solar entering the fray this year, three people will leave the festival unexpectedly elated. Everyone else will be among the first to witness a mobile solar power array, which could spell the future of energy in the agriculture industry.