Massachusetts Farm Energy Program

Energy Audits & Incentives

Phase 2 of the Mass Farm Energy Program (MFEP) will provide energy audits, renewable energy assessments, and/or provide incentives for implementation of audit recommendations, including those recommended by public utility programs. Since funds are limited to approximately $250,000 for audits and incentives through the MFEP, higher priority will be given to farmers with less access to other audits and incentives programs. MFEP audits, assessments, and consultations will be paid at 75% with the applicant responsible for the remaining 25%. Incentives for implementation will be based on energy savings. Although the emphasis of Phase 2 is energy conservation and efficiency, there will be some funding opportunities for renewable energy projects, especially those projects that are not eligible for other programs. The intent of the audits and incentives program is to encourage implementation of at least 50% of the recommended measures. The program administrators reserve the right to make changes in the program deemed necessary to meet the intent of the program.

Where to Sign Up for MFEP Energy Audits & Incentives

  1. As a first step, MFEP strongly encourages farmers to take advantage of free utility-offered energy audits. Public utility (electric and natural gas) energy audits are provided at the request of the farmer through their serving utility. The MFEP may pay incentives for implementation of public utility audit recommendations. View a list of energy audit contacts at Non-Municipal, Investor-owned ("Public") Utility Conservation & Energy Efficiency Programs
  2. MFEP energy efficiency audits and/or renewable energy assessments and consultations will be provided, for as long as funding is available, to agricultural producers who complete the application and meet the requirements of the program. MFEP audits or consultations will typically be "targeted" to address specific measures or concerns identified in the application process, particularly those that are not addressed by a "public" utility energy efficiency program or Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MTC’s) renewable energy programs. The audit/assessment report will contain recommendations and, if desired, content suitable for applying to other programs (such as MTC or USDA/Rural Development REAP), again, as identified in the application process. BPRC&D energy contractors, referred to as Technical Assistance Consultants (TACs), have been retained for this program. In order to minimize the costs of these professional services, each project will be assigned a Technical Assistance Consultant by BPRC&D and clusters of projects will be assigned to individual TACs.

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Requirements of the MFEP Audits & Incentives Program

  1. Be an agricultural producer - a person or corporation principally and substantially engaged in the business of production agriculture or farming for an ultimate commercial purpose. (MA-DAR)
  2. Complete the on-line application and possible follow-up interview with BPRC&D
  3. Meet the NRCS Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP) eligibility rules (but you do not need to apply to the EQIP program, and BPRC&D will help you determine whether you meet the eligibility rules).
  4. Provide energy use records for the last three years to BPRC&D
  5. Provide reports to BPRC&D from past energy audits and renewable energy assessments and any other information deemed important for "targeting" the audit
  6. Provide 25% cost-share to BPRC&D prior to an audit, assessment, or consultation
  7. Plan to implement at least 50% of the audit recommendations
  8. Obtain the necessary approval from the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program, or any other land restriction program, for any energy related improvements on APR or land-restricted property
  9. Provide follow-up energy savings information after implementation of measures

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Financial Incentives the MFEP Will Pay

MFEP incentives will be based on projected energy savings from energy efficiency & renewable energy systems as follows:

  • $0.15 incentive per kWh electricity
  • $2.50 incentive per therm natural gas
  • $2.75 incentive per gallon propane
  • $3.00 incentive per gallon fuel oil

These rates are subject to change as needed to meet the intent of the program.

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How the MFEP Energy Audits & Incentives Are Structured

The MFEP will give higher priority to farmers with less access to existing audit, rebate, incentive, and grant programs. To that end, MFEP audits and incentives will be divided into Energy Efficiency Groups (EEG) and Renewable Energy Groups (REG).

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Energy Efficiency Audits & Incentives

Energy Efficiency Groups (EEG)

EEG 1: Those with no electric or natural gas energy efficiency rebate program incentives available to them; these are typically customers of municipal power & light service territories or those who are isolated totally from any utility grid;

EEG 2: Those who are part of either an electric energy efficiency rebate program or a natural gas rebate program; these customers typically utilize oil, propane or other non-natural gas fuels.

EEG 3: Those who are part of both electric and natural gas energy efficiency rebate programs.

Energy Efficiency Audits

The MFEP will pay 75% of the cost of the audit. The applicant farmer will be responsible for paying the remaining 25%, prior to receiving the audit. In order to keep the cost more affordable and to reduce duplication of efforts, audits will be targeted to address specific concerns and measures identified in the application process that have not been adequately addressed by other audit programs. Estimates for energy audits & assessments are provided below but the actual amount will be determined by BPRC&D prior to the audit. The EEG 3 rate represents the Technical Assistance Consultants' per diem rates and will primarily target one specific concern or measure and may be a consultation in lieu of an actual audit or assessment.

Energy Efficiency
Group		 Audit/assessment
cost		 MFEP cost
at 75%		 Farmer cost
at 25%
EEG1 $1000-2000 $750-1500 $250-500
EEG2 $1000 $750 $250
EEG3 $400-700 $300-525 $100-175

Energy Efficiency Technologies

Although MFEP will consider for eligibility any genuine energy saving technology, the following conventional energy saving technologies (listed by agricultural sector) will be considered of high priority:

Dairy

  • Lighting
  • Plate coolers
  • Refrigeration heat recovery
  • Variable speed vacuum pumps
  • Energy Efficient Ventilation Fans
  • Low/no energy waterers
  • Higher efficiency refrigeration compressors

Cranberry

  • Automatic Temperature/Water controls for irrigation pumping, direct-digital, wireless technology
  • Higher Efficiency Pumps

Nurseries/Greenhouses

  • Electronic temperature controls
  • Thermal Blankets, automatic or manual
  • Sidewall/Foundation wall insulation
  • Energy Efficient Ventilation Fans & associated tight sealing louvers
  • Lighting
  • Higher efficiency heating systems
  • Higher efficiency refrigeration systems including heat recovery
  • IR Layer of polyethylene

Maple Sugaring

  • Reverse Osmosis Equipment
  • High Efficient Evaporators
  • Heat Recovery & Economizer Equipment
  • Lighting

Poultry

  • Energy Efficient Ventilation Fans & systems
  • Lighting
  • Higher efficiency heating systems

Hogs/Swine

  • Energy Efficient Ventilation Fans & cross-ventilation systems
  • Lighting
  • Higher efficiency heating systems

Vegetable/Orchards

  • Lighting (@ farm stand)
  • Higher efficiency refrigeration systems including heat recovery

Logging/Lumber/Forest Products

  • Higher Efficiency Heaters for drying including economizers
  • Lighting
  • Automatic Temperature Controls for drying/moisture content/ventilation systems
  • Higher Efficiency Motors

Grains

  • Higher Efficiency Drying Equipment

Energy Efficiency Incentives

The dollar amounts for Incentives for energy savings of electricity, natural gas, oil, and propane will be posted on the website when finalized. However, the maximum amounts for incentives are as follows (and are subject to change as needed to meet the intent of the program.)

For EEG 1:

  • Projects either individually or in aggregate must have a simple payback of 8 years or less. In general, simple payback should be less than the system lifetime.
  • Maximum total incentive per farm is $7,500.
  • Incentive cannot be greater than the total measure cost, including incentives from other programs.

For EEG 2:

  • Projects either individually or in aggregate must have a simple payback of 8 years or less. In general, simple payback should be less than the system lifetime.
  • Maximum electric incentive per farm is $2,500.
  • Maximum non-electric incentive per farm is $5,000.
  • Maximum total incentive per farm is $5,000.
  • Incentive cannot be greater than the total measure cost, including incentives from other programs.

For EEG 3:

  • Projects either individually or in aggregate must have a simple payback of 8 years or less. In general, simple payback should be less than the system lifetime.
  • Maximum total incentive per farm is $1,500.
  • Incentive cannot be greater than the total measure cost, including incentives from other programs.

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Renewable Energy Assessments & Incentives

Renewable Energy Groups (REG)

REG 1: Those who are not eligible (do not meet eligibility requirements for applicant, location, project, or technology) for both the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) programs (rebates and competitive grants) and USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), formerly called the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program (USDA 9006).

REG 2: Those applicants who are eligible for USDA's REAP and/or MTC's competitive grants. MFEP will pay 75% of the cost of an assessment to apply for an MTC competitive grant, but will not pay incentives if applicant is awarded the grant.

REG 3: Those who are eligible for MTC rebates but not eligible for USDA-REAP. No MFEP incentives currently available.

REG 4: Those who are eligible for both MTC programs and USDA’s REAP. No MFEP incentives currently available.

Renewable Energy Assessment

As funding is limited for renewable projects, MFEP will pay up to 75% of the cost of an assessment or consultation for applicants who are not eligible for MTC rebates (as opposed to MTC competitive grants), i.e. REG 1 and REG 2 applicants. The applicant farmer will be responsible for paying the remaining 25%, prior to receiving an on-site visit. In order to keep the cost more affordable and to reduce duplication of efforts, assessments will be targeted to address specific concerns and measures that are identified in the application process. Estimates for renewable energy assessments can vary widely and are provided below but the actual amount will be determined by BPRC&D prior to the assessment. The consultation rate represents the Technical Assistance Consultants’ per diem rates and will primarily target one specific concern or measure.

Renewable Energy
Group		 Assessment/consultation
cost		 MFEP cost
at 75%		 Farmer cost
at 25%
REG 1&2 assessment $1000-5000 $750-3700 $250-1250
REG 1&2 consultation $400-700 $300-525 $100-175

Renewable Energy Technologies

Although any genuine renewable energy technology will be considered by the program for eligibility, the following conventional renewable energy technologies for all agricultural sectors will be considered of high priority: Biomass for solid fuels, anaerobic waste digesters, wind, photovoltaics, solar thermal, geothermal, hydro.

The dollar amounts for Incentives for energy savings of electricity, natural gas, oil, and propane will be posted on the website when finalized. However, the maximum amounts for incentives are as follows (and are subject to change as needed to meet the intent of the program.)

For REG 1

  • Projects either individually or in aggregate must have a simple payback less than the projected lifetime of the renewable energy equipment.
  • Maximum total incentive per farm is $5,000.
  • Incentive cannot be greater than the total measure cost, including incentives from other programs.

For REG 2

  • Projects either individually or in aggregate must have a simple payback of less than the projected lifetime of the renewable energy equipment.
  • Maximum total incentive per farm is $2,500.
  • Incentive cannot be greater than the total measure cost, including incentives from other programs.

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What Happens After I Apply for an Audit and/or Incentive?

  1. Once your on-line application is received, BPRC&D staff may contact you to set up a follow-up phone interview to ensure application accuracy and completion. Applications will be reviewed by a team of representatives from BPRC&D, MA-DAR, and NRCS. Subsequent phone calls may be made to further clarify project understanding and needs. Once the application review process is completed, you will be notified by BPRC&D whether your application is approved or not. If not approved, recommendations will be made as to how best to proceed.
  2. If your project is approved, BPRC&D staff and partners will, to the best of their ability, determine the specific service and cost of those services. A contract between you, the applicant, and BPRC&D will be mailed to you. It will need to be signed and returned, along with your 25% cost-share, energy use records, past energy audits or assessments, and any other documentation deemed important.
  3. To keep the cost more affordable, the approved applications will be aggregated by geographic area so they can be assigned to a Technical Assistance Consultant (TAC). This may take several weeks and BPRC&D will let you know when your project has been assigned to a TAC.
  4. The TAC will call you to schedule an on-site visit and to review the scope of work.
  5. The TAC will perform the on-site audit, assessment, or consultation. BPRC&D, NRCS, and MA-DAR staff may accompany the TAC on some projects.
  6. The TAC will complete the assignment and provide a written report to BPRC&D within 60 days. BPRC&D, NRCS, and MA-DAR staff will either approve the report or make recommendations for improvement. The final approved report will be provided to you along with guidance needed to implement the recommendations.

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Question & Answers

1. Can I apply for the incentives only?

Yes, as long as you have sufficient documentation from a previous audit or assessment that identifies energy savings for the incentive you are applying for.

2. Can measures recommended in other audits be funded by the MFEP?

Yes, any measure with an 8 year payback or less can qualify but the Incentive cannot be greater than the total measure cost, including incentives from other programs.

3. Will the MFEP perform a full facility audit for my operation?

Possibly, but depending upon size and complexity of your operation, the cost may exceed the typical cost of an audit. Every attempt will be made by BPRC&D and MFEP partners to assist you in "targeting" specific measures.

4. Will the MFEP pay for any type of renewable energy assessment?

No, because of limited funding and the nature of specific renewable energy technologies, the MFEP must limit these assessments to those applicants who do not have access to MTC rebates (as opposed to MTC competitive grants), and who have a sound project proposal that documents a reasonable potential for a specific renewable energy technology.

5. How does one find out if a technology is eligible for MTC renewable energy programs?

Go to the Business and Nonprofits section of the Renewable Energy Trust.

6. What happens if I get the audit/assessment done and then can't afford to implement the recommended measures?

One of the requirements of the program is that the farmer plan to implement at least 50% of the audit recommendations, with or without funding from sources other than the MFEP. The MFEP program staff will assist you in leveraging funds from other sources during and after the application phase. Nonetheless, if your circumstances change and you cannot afford to implement at least 50% of the recommendations, you will not be penalized.

7. Will the MFEP program fund feasibility studies?

No, but it will fund consultations to determine if your project warrants a feasibility study. We will also refer you to potential funding sources for feasibility studies.

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How to Apply for an Audit and/or Incentive

  1. Gather utility bills for the past year (electricity and all fuels). The on-line application asks you to summarize the past year’s actual energy use so have this information ready when you go on-line.
  2. Identify your greatest energy needs and concerns and any measures you think are your highest priority.
  3. If you have an idea for an energy efficiency or renewable energy project, write up a brief project proposal that can be inserted into the on-line application by using cut and paste, or you can just type it directly into the on-line application.
  4. Complete the on-line application.
  5. Berkshire-Pioneer RC&D will review your application and, if necessary, call to schedule a follow-up phone interview to gather additional information, verify your eligibility for the MFEP services, and explore other funding opportunities with you.

Massachusetts Farm Energy Program