Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy Programs For Farms
Agricultural Energy Grant Program
Our goal is to support clean energy projects in the agricultural sector. Interested applicants should review the Program Guidance document and ensure applications comply with program terms & conditions.
Applications should be sent via email to Abigail.Hasenfus@energy.ri.gov on or before
the listed closing date of the funding round to be considered. Grant awards are
subject to availability of funds and are awarded at the sole discretion of OER;
submission of an application does not guarantee an award.
Applications for the Fall 2023 round are
due by 5:00pm on Friday, October 20th, 2023.
Program Guidance Document - Updated August 2023PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes
Renewable Energy Project ApplicationPDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes
Energy Efficiency Project ApplicationPDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes
Sign up for OER's Farm Energy Program Newsletter
To see examples of how several farmers have used this program to help implement clean energy projects, watch our two profiles below:
Verde Vineyards: A Clean Energy Story
Verde Vineyards received an award from the
state's Agricultural Energy Grant program (administered by the RI Office of
Energy Resources and Department of Environmental Management) supporting both
the battery installation and an upgrade to its solar inverters. The farm
received an additional grant award from the US Department of Agriculture Rural
Energy for America Program (USDA-REAP).
Clean Energy Profile: Legend's Creek Farm Goes Green
Legend’s Creek Farm, located in Foster,
Rhode Island, is popular for its goat milk soap and other personal care
products. To help save energy, the owners installed energy efficient closed
cell foam insulation and new double-pane windows. The farm received combined
grants for over $38,000 to install 59 solar panels, which produce nearly 100
percent of its annual energy use.
What opportunities can help support the process?
The Agricultural Energy Program is designed to support the adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at agricultural operations in Rhode Island. The Program can also leverage other state and federal incentives available to RI farmers, including the Renewable Energy Fund, USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), the Federal Investment Tax Credit, and Rhode Island Energy’s energy efficiency incentive programs.
Additionally, there are federal incentive programs designed
to help provide funding for farm energy projects.
Funding for the Agricultural Energy Program
is made possible through Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
auction proceeds, with a maximum award amount of $20,000 per project to support
the agricultural sector's clean energy transformation. For more information
on energy program funding opportunities check out our webinar.
