The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) request Rhode Island Agricultural Operations to submit applications seeking funding for energy projects in an effort to improve energy efficiency, promote renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Donor Name: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
State: Rhode Island
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/20/2023
Size of the Grant: Up to $20,000.00
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
The Agricultural Energy Program represents a significant step toward filling this gap in the State’s clean energy portfolio by providing targeted resources and support that ultimately leads to increased agricultural consumer adoption of energy efficient equipment and deployment of renewable energy assets. Through the Agricultural Energy Program, qualified Rhode Island agribusinesses interested in the installation of approved energy efficiency or renewable energy equipment will be eligible for grants of up to $20,000.00. Clean energy technologies like these can reduce energy use, lower customer energy bills, improve facility operations and comfort, and provide additional energy generation and resiliency. These funds are allocated through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auction proceeds administered by OER.
OER and DEM reserve the right to modify the Agricultural Energy Program and its terms and conditions and/or terminate the Agricultural Energy Program at their sole discretion. The submittal of an application form does not guarantee award and all awards are subject to the availability of funding.
Funding Information
As of the effective date of this document, the maximum energy efficiency or renewable energy grant award amount per applicant, per calendar year shall be $20,000.00. These grant funds shall be for the direct costs associated with the materials and labor related to project construction. Grants of up to $20,000.00 will be awarded on a competitive basis. All projects must be completed within one (1) calendar year of the award date. Extensions may be approved on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of OER.
Eligible Projects
- Clean Energy Investments
- The following clean energy investments and technologies will be considered eligible for this program, so long as each proposed project meets all program requirements.
- Renewable Energy
- Photovoltaics (PV)
- Small Scale wind
- Biomass
- The following clean energy investments and technologies will be considered eligible for this program, so long as each proposed project meets all program requirements.
- Energy Efficiency
- Envelope insulation o LED lighting
- HVAC systems (especially heat pump technology)
- Automatic temperature controls
- Variable speed motors, drives & pumps
- Solar thermal
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include agricultural entities and operations that fulfill all of the following requirements:
- Agricultural entities must have a physical location located in Rhode Island with the ability to enter into a legal agreement with the State.
- The proposed clean energy investment must be implemented/installed at a Rhode Island based location.
- The applicant must be considered an “Agricultural Operation.” Agricultural Operations include any commercial enterprise which has as its primary purpose: horticulture, viticulture, floriculture, forestry, stabling of horses, dairy farming, aquaculture, the raising of livestock (including the production of fiber), furbearing animals, poultry, or bees.
- Applicants may seek program eligibility for operations not listed above by requesting an eligibility determination from DEM’s Chief of Agriculture.
- The leasing of agricultural land to another agricultural operation is NOT considered agricultural income and does NOT count towards the agricultural income requirement.
- Agricultural entities that are considered non-profit (with a 501(c)(3) or similar non-profit designation) are considered eligible applicants for this program and are not required to meet the $2,500 agricultural income requirement to participate.
- The applicant must own the property or has otherwise received permission from the property owner on which the proposed project will be implemented.
- The Agricultural Operation must have received a general energy efficiency audit or commit to scheduling an energy efficiency audit prior to funds being awarded.1 o In the event the completion of an energy audit is impossible or impractical for the proposed project, OER may waive this requirement
- There is an applicant cost-share requirement of at least 10% of total project costs.
Eligible Proposals
- Energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that support Agricultural Operations and activities as defined by National Right to Farm Act.2
- Eligible farm stands which meet the intent of an Agricultural Operation to sell agricultural products, the majority of which are produced by the applicant’s operation. Applicant has not applied to the Agricultural Energy Program within one calendar year of a previous award.
- Applicant is limited to one Agricultural Energy Program grant received per calendar year, and there is a maximum of three awards received by any single agri-business.
- Applicant has not been previously awarded two Agricultural Energy Program grants for renewable energy projects and one Agricultural Energy Program grant for energy efficiency projects.
- OER reserves the right to request additional project information from the applicant, including copies of any required permits, licenses, or any other information they may require to make a funding determination for a submitted project
For more information, visit DEM.
