Farm - Agriculture Incentives
RI 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 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.
Renewable Energy Fund (REF) Small-Scale OR Commercial-Scale Solar Program
Agricultural Operations are eligible for the Small-Scale OR Commercial-Scale solar program, depending on the electric rate-code received by the farm or agribusiness. Your selected solar installer will apply to the REF on your behalf. This grant is available for Net-Metered systems only. After the solar PV system is installed, the grant will go directly to the installer after the completion paperwork is processed and a quality assurance evaluation of the system is complete. If using the REF Small Scale program, make sure the turnkey contract with your installer clearly shows how much the grant is for and includes a clause with an option for cancellation in case the grant program becomes fully subscribed. This is a popular program with a limited annual amount of funding.
- Funding: Small Scale: $1.65/watt, max $14,500 per customer for small-scale OR Commercial: Starts at $.70/watt and progressively goes down as the size increases (see the flyer below for the full scale)
- Energy Storage Adder Incentive: $5,000/project for residential rate codes, and $.50/watt, max $40,000 per project for commercial rate codes
- Please visit the “Residential” and “Commercial” sections of this page, or the REF website, to view the dates for the small-scale and commercial-scale funding rounds: https://commerceri.com/financing/renewable-energy-fund/.
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
The Rural Energy for America Program is offered at the federal level through USDA provides loans and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. To learn more visit, https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/energy-programs/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency-improvement-guaranteed-loans.
Renewable Energy Growth Program
The Renewable Energy Growth (REG) Program, administered by Rhode Island Energy, supports the development of distributed generation projects in Rhode Island. Eligible technologies include wind, solar, small-scale hydropower, and anaerobic digestion. The program enables customers to sell their generation output under long-term tariffs at fixed prices. Farmers and agribusinesses who participate in this program are NOT eligible for a grant from the RI AgEP or REF. To learn more about this program, please visit https://energy.ri.gov/renewable-energy/wind/renewable-energy-growth-program-reg-program.
Depending on the electric rate-code on-site (residentially or commercially) please view the “Commercial - Energy Efficiency” or “Residential - Energy Efficiency” section for additional Efficiency incentives.
Electric Leaf Blower Rebate Program
The Electric Leaf Blower Rebate program offers rebates for electric leaf blowers. Rhode Island farms registered as businesses or nonprofits can receive up to 5 rebates each worth up to $1,500 or 75% (whichever is less) of the purchase price of an electric leaf blower and 2 additional related batteries. An additional $250 per rebate can be awarded to applicants in the municipalities with the highest asthma rates. To learn more, visit: https://energy.ri.gov/climate-change/electric-leaf-blower-rebate-program.