Farmers who attended workshops have experienced success in securing utility rebates and USDA grant funding to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
If you are looking for ways to reduce your energy expenses, you will want to attend one of the Energy Conservation: Impact on the Bottom Line workshops being held around the state. Farmers who attend a workshop will learn how to develop an energy management strategy and receive information on the sources of financial assistance available to implement that strategy. While attendance at a workshop is no guarantee of project funding, farmers who have submitted applications for utility rebates and USDA grant funding have experienced success in securing dollars from these sources to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
For example, three farmers who attended a workshop in January completed a NRCS Agricultural Energy Management Plan and will be applying for EQIP funds to implement recommended practices. Another farmer applied for USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America (REAP) grant and received $108,000 to install high-efficiency fans, automatic curtain controls and vent controls, static pressure modules, and LED bulbs and fixtures. Registration information and an agenda can be found at http://events.anr.msu.edu/2016_AgEnConsWorkshop/.