FEATURE STORY JORDAN ENERGY & FOOD ENTERPRISES Harvesting the Power of the Sun By Michelle Rivera, Senior Communications Manager
From left: Bill Jordan, Founder and CEO, Jordan Energy; Kelly Strickland, Vice President of Operations, Five Crowns Marketing; Bernie Jordan, West Coast Sales Manager, Jordan Energy
For growers across the country, rising electricity costs continue to challenge already slim margins, making energy efficiency and sustainability more important than ever. But while solar energy has become an increasingly attractive solution, many agricultural operations face a major barrier before installation even begins: securing the financial resources to make large-scale energy investments possible. For Jordan Energy, solving that challenge goes far beyond developing solar projects. Founded in 2009 by William “Bill” Jordan and supported by his family, including his daughter Bernadette “Bernie” Jordan, Jordan Energy has built its reputation not only as a solar developer for agriculture but as one of the industry’s most successful grant- writing partners for growers seeking renewable energy solutions. With an impressive 97 percent grant success rate in the last two decades, Jordan Energy has transformed grant funding into one of its most powerful tools for strengthening family farms and accelerating the return on investment for ag solar projects. Jordan Energy’s mission has always been centered on supporting the long-term health of family agriculture. “We were convinced that solar could save farmers significant money and strengthen their family farms,” Bill said. “If you
can lower or eliminate one of your largest operational costs— electricity—you create a stronger family business.” But Bill quickly recognized that for many growers, the biggest hurdle wasn’t understanding the benefits of solar but rather it was affording the upfront costs. That realization led the company to make grant writing a cornerstone of its business model from the very beginning. Jordan Energy wrote its first successful grant in 2009, and the company has consistently helped growers secure state and federal funding that dramatically lowers project costs ever since. The grant support can mean the difference between a project being financially out of reach or becoming a highly profitable and long-term investment. It’s no secret that grant writing is one of the most complex and time-intensive aspects of ag funding programs. Applications require intense documentation, strict compliance with program criteria and a deep understanding of government processes. But Jordan Energy has turned that complexity into one of its greatest strengths. With a 97 percent success rate, the company has only failed to secure grant funding on two occasions. “We have the best grant-writing team in the country,” Bill said. “The success rate stems from our strategic approach: writing
36 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com July – September 2026
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator