CASE STUDY
Ralston Family Farms
Powering sustainability with transferable tax credits
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) transformed the renewable energy landscape by dramatically expanding financial incentives for clean energy projects.
While tax credits have existed since the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the IRA marked a turning point boosting credit values, extending availability, introducing direct pay, and most importantly, enabling transferability. Transferability has made clean energy investments more accessible and profitable across the board.
Since it was implemented in 2022, over $7 billion in clean energy tax credits have been transferred – unlocking a dynamic new marketplace. This liquidity benefits a wide range of participants, like corporations and financial institutions seeking tax savings, renewable energy developers looking to improve project returns and farms and small businesses that previously couldn’t use tax credits due to limited tax liability.
Ralston Family Farms | Arkansas
Ralston Family Farms is a multi-generational, women-owned regenerative rice farm in Atkins, Arkansas. From planting to packaging, they manage every step of production in-house, ensuring high-quality, nutrient-rich rice grown with a focus on environmental stewardship.
Ralston’s installation features agrovoltaics, allowing the farm to generate clean electricity while supporting livestock grazing beneath the panels. The array powers their entire irrigation, milling and processing operations—and any excess electricity flows back into the local grid, contributing to their community’s clean energy mix.
The Ralston Family
Economic & Environmental Impact
A smaller carbon footprint, thanks to solar replacing fossil-fueled power.
Lower, more predictable energy costs.
A switch from diesel irrigation pumps to fully electric ones—more efficient, less maintenance.
Local job creation during construction and ongoing operations.
A powerful example of how farms can lead in sustainability.
Ralston’s agrovoltaics approach supports both clean solar production and sheep grazing
How it works:
With Ever.green as their advisor, Ralston Family Farms was able to sell the tax credits generated by their solar project—an opportunity made available through the IRA. Here's how it worked:
1. Verifying Project Eligibility
Ever.green reviewed the project to ensure it qualified for transferable tax credits under the IRA. That meant checking project costs, timelines, and confirming wage and apprenticeship requirements were met.
2. Finding the Right Buyer
Ever.green then connected Ralston with a mission-driven tax credit buyer – a company looking to offset its tax liability while supporting rural clean energy development.
3. Diligence & Deal Structuring
Ever.green facilitated the legal and financial diligence to ensure the deal met IRS requirements. We helped determine the credit’s value based on verified costs, and ensured all paperwork and reporting were ready for a compliant, smooth transfer.
4. Closing the Deal
Once the deal closed, Ralston received a direct payment—covering nearly 40% of the solar project’s cost. The boost in capital made a real difference, allowing the Ralston family farm to reinvest in operational improvements.
Regenerative farming practices on Ralston Family Farms
A blueprint for small businesses
The Inflation Reduction Act unlocked a new path to clean energy, one where tax credits aren’t just for big corporations, but for real businesses, real people, and real progress. Ralston Family Farms’ story shows just how powerful transferable tax credits can be.
For farmers, ranchers, and small business owners, it’s more than just policy change, it’s an opportunity to build economic resilience, lower energy costs, and lead their communities toward a cleaner future.With the right guidance and a trusted partner, tax credit transferability can deliver lasting impact and accelerate the energy transition.
If you’re planning a solar project and wondering how to get started with tax credit sales, Ever.green is here to help.
Ralston Family Farms
Ever.green is the trusted marketplace for clean energy tax credits and high-impact renewable energy certificates.
Lower your tax liability by purchasing transferable clean energy tax credits— all while making a measurable impact.
