Massachusetts Farm Energy Program
Why the Mass Farm Energy Program?
Electricity and fossil fuel costs have increased by 30% or more in the last few years. The impact on farms has meant a dramatic increase in costs related to power, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, lighting, transportation, fertilizer and feed. Rising energy costs reduce the profit margin for all farmers and directly threaten the viability of farms across the Commonwealth.
There is a tremendous loss of energy savings in the agricultural community because
- many Massachusetts farmers are unaware of current energy programs available to them;
- farmers do not have access to a simple, streamlined process of applying for technical and financial assistance; and
- because the current pool of financial incentives is not large enough to encourage widespread implementation.
What the Massachusetts Farm Energy Program will do
The Massachusetts Farm Energy Program is a two-year statewide collaborative effort, bringing together federal, state, industry, and private support to streamline technical and financial assistance available to Massachusetts farmers for reducing their energy demand and increasing their profits. The Massachusetts Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are providing funding of $400,000 and significant in-kind assistance.
The program will
- provide technical assistance to increase use of existing energy programs;
- help to obtain, and in some cases provide, energy audits and/or renewable energy assessments;
- provide incentives for implementation of audit recommendations; and
- identify and promote best management practices for farm energy systems.
Federal, state, and industry investments in farm energy audits must be tied to energy savings and generation accomplished through implementation. This is the focus of the Massachusetts Farm Energy Program.
How the Program is structured
Berkshire-Pioneer Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Area, Inc. and Patriot Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. will develop and implement the program, under the guidelines adopted by the Steering Committee, currently made up of MDAR, NRCS, Berkshire-Pioneer RC&D, and Patriot RC&D. The program partners (listed separately) and the Technical Advisory Group (made up of all partners that provide energy conservation, efficiency, or renewable energy programs to their constituents) make recommendations to the Steering Committee.
The Technical Advisory Group is charged with:
- researching financial and technical assistance opportunities currently available to farmers;
- developing a streamlined approach for the Massachusetts Farm Energy Program to assist agribusiness; and
- identifying and recommending energy conservation and efficiency best management practices (BMPs) and renewable energy measures that will be encouraged by this program.
The Partnership Advisory Group will review the work of the Technical Advisory Group, insuring recommendations can be implemented within their own organization, if applicable. The Steering Committee will then customize and adopt the audit program and BMPs (including renewables), establish program participant criteria, and establish the technical assistance and rebate program. Energy audits and renewable energy assessments will be conducted by farm energy consultant(s) and/or utility companies. BPRC&D and PRC&D will provide technical assistance and administration for the program.