Agricultural Energy Program

The Agricultural Energy program provides grants to agricultural businesses in the state to improve their energy efficiency and promote adoption of renewable energy technologies. EligibilityOnly agricultural businesses are eligible to apply for the program. The agricultural operations may include horticulture, viticulture, floriculture, forestry, stabling of horses, dairy farming, aquaculture, the raising of livestock (including the production of fiber), furbearing animals, poultry, or bees. The business must have produced at least $2,500 in annual income from farming operations.

The program funds both energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Energy efficiency projects may include technologies to improve efficiency of the farm. Eligible renewable energy sources include photovoltaics, small-scale wind, solar thermal, and energy storage. Any other farm related energy efficiency and renewable energy projects will be considered. Program descriptionThe program provides grants up to $20,000 to help with direct costs associated with implementing the project. There is an applicant cost-share requirement of at least 10% of total project costs, but projects that demonstrate other sources for funding are more likely to be funded. Higher priority will be given to non-utility scale, or non-large scale commercial projects that demonstrate predominately agriculturally related renewable energy use. The farm operation must have performed or initiated an energy efficiency audit prior to the submittal of the application.