Welch Home Of State's Only Solar-Powered Restaurant

Restaurants are always looking for something that makes them unique. There's one restaurant here in Oklahoma that is almost exclusively powered by solar energy.

It's not in a big city - it's in Welch, a Craig County town with a population of 619.

Order up! It's lunch time at The Cow.

The dining room is pretty much full, and the kitchen is busy. The Cow is Welch's only real restaurant. So unless you're grabbing something at the convenience store or eating at home, it's pretty much it.

Out back they're creating an outdoor seating area, providing the shade a series of solar panels.

They make the Cow unique in Oklahoma.

Every month they get rebates from the electric company - and even sell electricity back to them some months.

B.J. Mooney and her husband Brian own The Cow, and she believes it is Oklahoma's only solar powered restaurant. Maybe the only one in the four-state area.

Not exclusively solar powered, but almost.

There are solar panels on top of a pergola or arbor and also on the roof.

"They are 1/2-inch thick, and they will endure tennis-ball sized hail," said B.J. Mooney.

Not just solar power makes this an interesting stop. They bake all their own bread and hamburger buns and rolls. Strawberry pies too.

Kids at the high school can order take out lunches from the Cow.

The menu is loaded with lots of favorites: chicken fried steak and chicken. As much as they can, they buy local produce.

It won't be long you'll be able to sit outside under the shade of their solar panels.

Welch is a few miles north of Vinita in Craig County. The Cow is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.