Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy Programs For Farms

Agricultural Energy Grant Program

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) manages the Agricultural Energy Grant Program that provides grants of up to $20,000 for eligible energy efficiency and renewable energy projects located on farms throughout Rhode Island. 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 Energy.Resources@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 our next funding round are due on Friday, November 4, 2022.

To see examples of how several farmers have used this program to help implement clean energy projects, watch our two video 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 incentive programs available to RI farmers including the Renewable Energy Fund, Renewable Energy Growth Program, C-PACE, and Rhode Island Energy’s energy efficiency incentive programs. Additionally, there are federal incentive programs designed to help provide funding for farm energy projects.

These include the Federal Investment Tax Credit and the Rural Energy for America program run by the US Department of Agriculture. Funding for the Agricultural Energy Program grant awards is made possible through Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auction proceeds with a maximum award amount of $20,000 per project to support farms clean energy transformation. For more information on energy program funding opportunities check out our webinar.

The Agricultural Energy Program since 2016:

Energy Efficiency Resources for Farmers

Be sure to identify yourself as a farm in the comments and questions box!

Contact Us

Abigail Hasenfus | Agricultural Energy Program Manager | Renewable Energy Programming Services Officer abigail.hasenfus@energy.ri.gov