Farm Energy Funding Opportunities

The Northeast Sun Grant Initiative Competitive Grants Program announces the availability of funds to support research, education and outreach projects in the strategic areas of Biologically-Based Fuels (BioFuels), Biologically-Based Power (BioPower), and Biologically-Based Products (BioProducts). The Northeast Sun Grant Initiative (NE-SGI) expects to award up to $1,053,000 in competitive grants in 2009. In 2009, Northeast Sun Grant Initiative will seek proposals with emphasis on northeast region feedstock inventories, systems modeling, industrial ecology and environmental impact, and distributed scalable technologies. Grants that address the Northeast Sun Grant priorities will be provided to single investigators or small teams for up to $150,000. Education and/or outreach proposals may seek up to $30,000 in support of graduate students, cooperative extension educator training or outreach programs.

The Southern SARE Program and the Southern Rural Development Center are interested in investing in Sustainable Community Innovation Grants: projects that work to strengthen both agriculture and Southern communities by building explicit linkages between sustainable agriculture and community development. Any individuals, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, governmental organizations and/or educational organizations in Southern Region states may apply for a Sustainable Community Innovation Grant of up to $10,000. The Southern region consists of: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), administrator of the New York State Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program, is accepting applications to receive financial incentives to support the purchase, installation, and operation of Anaerobic Digester Gas (ADG)-to-Electricity Systems. $11 million is available for financial incentives to support the installation and operation of anaerobic digester gas (ADG)-to-electricity systems in New York State, with up to $1 million available per ADG System. Funding is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Energy for Sustainability program supports fundamental research and education in energy production, conversion, and storage and is focused on energy sources that are environmentally friendly and renewable. The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The average annual award size for the program is $100,000.

Utah offers a state income tax credit for renewable energy systems. The investment tax credit for residential systems is 25 percent of the equipment and installation cost up to a maximum of $2,000. Commercial systems receive a 10 percent investment tax credit up to a maximum of $50,000. The technologies included are: solar electric, solar thermal, passive solar, wind, hydropower, ground source heat pumps, water source heat pumps, direct use geothermal, geothermal for electricity, and biomass.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) seeks to encourage innovative local food production systems, such as Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), greenhouse technologies, and aquaculture that support a sustainable economy, lead to sound energy management and can reduce dependence on carbon-based fuels. The production in New York State of fresh produce, fish and seafood products in controlled environments could experience explosive growth, based on rising energy and fertilizer costs, innovations in greenhouses and energy technologies, concern over energy security and food safety, and rising interest in locally grown food products. This solicitation's objective is that every project funded includes efforts to expand awareness and use of these food production systems by others in the State.

The Administrative Council of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program announces the Request for Sustainable Agricultural Tours Grant Applications for 2009. These grants are targeted for producers to attend specific on-farm demonstration and/or educational outreach tours in an area of sustainable agriculture. Funds for these applications will be utilized until exhausted. Western SARE region is made up of Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Micronesia, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

EPA announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals for diesel emissions reductions projects for the use of and development and commercialization of emerging technologies.

The Colorado Agricultural Value-Added Development Board administers the Advancing Colorado's Renewable Energy (ACRE) Program which provides funding to promote energy-related projects beneficial to Colorado's agriculture industry. Funding in the amount of $500,000 will be available to the Board for allocation and award during the 2007/2008 fiscal year that began July 1, 2008. Funds are available for feasibility studies, project participation, and research.

The Agricultural Rural and Youth Grant Program offers eligible organizations the opportunity to apply for a matching grant up to $10,000 and a direct grant up to $2,500. Organizations comprised of persons eighteen years of age or younger and are organized and recognized within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to promote development of agriculture, rural community leadership, vocational training or peer fellowship are considered eligible applicants. Matching grants have been awarded to projects that include the construction of a building utilizing solar panels to showcase the most recent and innovative energy efficient barn structures.

Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Feasibility Study Grants provide financial support for assessing the feasibility of using complex, often large customer-sited renewable energy systems. Feasibility studies for simple solar and wind energy projects are funded through the Focus on Energy renewable site assessment program. A Feasibility Study Grant will cover up to 50 percent of the costs of feasibility study activities, with a maximum grant of $10,000.

The Ohio Department of Development’s (ODOD) Ohio Energy Office (OEO) is soliciting applications from interested and qualified applicants to implement distributed energy resources (DER) projects, including but not limited to industrial heat recovery, combined heat and power and landfill or biomass methane for electric generation. Projects financed through the Energy Loan Fund (ELF) will be eligible to apply for incentive grants to cover a portion of the costs of eligible projects located in the area of Ohio served by the ELF. The area includes the service territories of four investor-owned electric distribution companies. Projects from commercial, industrial, institutional and local government are eligible for funding under this NOFA. Qualifying applications will be funded until all funds for this DER grant fund are awarded.

The Efficiency Maine Business Program has prescriptive cash incentives on qualified lighting, HVAC equipment, NEMA Premium® energy efficient motors, system controls and refrigeration. All prescriptive incentives are available to all eligible business participants, regardless of the number of employees. As of March 2008, specific agricultural prescriptive cash incentives cover part of the cost of selected milk house equipment, potato storage house equipment, lighting, and fans.

The Small Renewables Initiative (SRI) provides rebates for the installation of wind and small hydroelectric projects that are up to 10 kilowatts and located at residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and public facilities. The applicant (and project site) must be a customer of a Massachusetts investor-owned electric distribution utility. SRI involves the distribution of approximately $3.6 million of rebates each year through FY2010.

This program provides grants to qualifying individuals from We Energies’ electric service territory to attend a renewable energy conference. Eligible participants include faculty members in good standing at secondary schools, colleges, technical colleges and universities, full-time staff members of non-profit organizations, and representatives from private renewable energy companies. Awards in this annual capped program are made based on eligibility and highest level of suitability. Applications must be submitted no later than the 15th of the month, two months prior to the conference date.

The Ohio Department of Development’s (ODOD) Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) is soliciting applications to implement renewable energy projects limited to solar electric, wind electric, and solar thermal systems for all non-residential customer classes in Ohio. Qualifying projects will be eligible to apply for grants to cover a portion of the costs of eligible projects located in the service territories of four investor-owned electric distribution companies. Incentive funds are limited, but qualifying applications will be funded until all the funds for this NOFA are awarded.

Puget Sound Energy is interested in encouraging small-scale renewable energy projects that develop and/or apply clean, environmentally preferred, renewable power. Accordingly, PSE will make grants and investments in projects that displace thermal generation resources with new, small-scale renewable energy resources in its electric service area. Letters of Enquiry are accepted at any time.

We Energies offers Renewable Energy Feasibility Study Grants to its business and not-for-profit electric customers as well as to organizations teamed with We Energies business and not-for-profit electric customers. This program helps to cover the costs of studying the feasibility of installing a renewable electricity generation project at a customer’s facility. Funds also can be used to conduct research on a renewable energy product or technology, or to help demonstrate or commercially advance a renewable energy product or technology into the marketplace. We Energies funds half the cost that remains after other funding sources are applied to the cost of the study or project, up to a maximum grant of $200,000. Grant proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability of funds.

Energy Trust is working with the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association and Oregon State University to help Oregon dairies invest in anaerobic digesters to turn manure into biogas that can be used as a fuel to generate electricity. Cash incentives are available to qualifying dairies. Dairies can learn what a standard incentive offering for a project would be by using an online spreadsheet. Initial applications are accepted continuously.

Southern California Gas Company offers its food service customers rebates of up to a total of $25,000 for updating the gas equipment in kitchen facilities with high-efficiency models. Rebates range from $125 to $2000 for specified equipment, properly installed.

MDU Resources Foundation makes contributions to nonprofit institutions, organizations and programs within the geographic areas where member companies conduct business. (This includes the states of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.) One of the Foundation priorities is environment, including organizations which promote the wise use of resources without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Application forms are available from the Foundation by mail.

The Energy Foundation is a partnership of major donors interested in solving the world's energy problems. Their mission is to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy—new technologies that are essential components of a clean energy future. The foundation's Board of Directors meets three times a year (the first week of March, the third week of June, and the first week of November). Proposals are accepted on a continuous basis, for projects in line with the Foundation's identified funding priorities.

Schoolteachers at qualifying public, private and parochial schools near major PPL facilities in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Illinois, Montana and New York can receive up to $1,500 in funding for school projects that focus on issues like watersheds and wetlands, air quality, renewable and non-renewable resources, energy conservation and the greening of schools. Grants are available for projects that enhance established classroom curricula and academic standards, or support extracurricular activities of school organizations and clubs.

The Open Solicitation program is designed to support renewable energy projects that are not eligible for other Energy Trust renewable energy programs. The program also provides opportunities to receive financial incentives and support for innovative commercial applications of renewable energy technology. Eligible projects must either be located in or deliver power to the Oregon service territories of Portland General Electric or Pacific Power. Applications are accepted throughout the year, but funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

NYSERDA announces approximately $1.5 million per year in incentives to encourage the development of a network of Eligible Installers who will install end-use wind energy systems for residential, commercial, institutional or government use. The incentives, of up to $150,000 per site, will be paid to Eligible Installers who install approved new grid-connected wind generation systems using Qualified equipment. The Eligible Installer must pass through incentives directly to their customers. Incentive levels depend on wind generator size, tower height, and customer type.

The Agricultural Pumping Efficiency Program is an educational and incentive rebate program developed to improve overall pumping plant efficiency and to encourage energy conservation. The Program is funded by Pacific Gas and Electric Company through 2008 using the Public Purpose Programs Fund under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Rebates for pump efficiency tests are paid directly to participating pump test companies. Incentives are available to individuals for retrofit of eligible and working electric- or natural gas-powered water pumps. There are several important eligibility factors regarding project type and timing of the incentive application.

The Small Agri-Biodiesel Producer Credit is a production incentive created in the 2005 Federal Energy Bill, providing 10 cents income tax credit for each gallon of qualified agri-biodiesel produced, up to 15 million gallons per year produced by a small producer. More information is available in an FAQ from the National Biodiesel Board (PDF / 21K).