Albuquerque Launches Nation's First Solar Powered Farmers' Market: Will Other Cities Follow?

Last week's launch of Albuquerque's Downtown Grower's Market was a momentous occasion and it wasn't just because of all the mouth watering local eats. This year the farmers' market will be powered entirely by the sun. That's right, the city has introduced the nation's first solar powered farmers' market.

The city has partnered with solar provider CleanSwitch to provide rolling solar panels to power the entire market. According to The Downtown Action Team (DAT) of Albuquerque, the concept is the first step in proving that from seed to sale, the entire process of food production, transportation, and delivery can one day be powered entirely by the sun.

Everything down to the band, espresso machines, and ATM are powered by the market's "solar roller."

"There are four modules and they are 240 watts a piece so that is about one kilowatt all together restored in batteries and then converted from dc power to ac power. It's just like what you get out of a wall," said Max Bloom of Clean Switch.

Last week's market was mostly a trial run but as the program is perfected the city hopes that farmers' markets across the nation will take advantage of the technology, and run their markets in a similar fashion.