Rhode Island Agricultural Energy Program
This program provides financial support to Rhode Island agricultural businesses and nonprofits for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to help reduce energy costs and promote sustainability.
The Rhode Island Agricultural Energy Program, a collaborative effort between the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM), provides grants to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for agricultural operations in the state. The program is designed to help agribusinesses reduce energy use, lower energy costs, and promote renewable energy adoption, while contributing to the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals. Grants of up to $20,000 are available for eligible projects. Eligible applicants must be Rhode Island-based agricultural operations that can demonstrate a minimum of $2,500 in agricultural income over the past two years. Nonprofits with agricultural operations are also eligible, even without meeting the income requirement. Projects must be implemented at Rhode Island locations and must involve energy efficiency improvements or renewable energy installations such as photovoltaics, small-scale wind, or energy storage. Energy efficiency projects could include HVAC systems, LED lighting, or solar thermal systems, among others. The application process includes contracting with an energy vendor and submitting an application to OER. Applicants are responsible for a 10% cost share of total project costs. Projects are funded competitively, with awards based on available funds and the ranking of proposals. Successful applicants receive 50% of the awarded amount upon project initiation and 50% upon project completion and inspection. Applications must be submitted electronically by the program deadline, and all projects must be completed within one year of the award.
Award Range
$10,000 - $20,000
Total Program Funding
Not specified
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Eligible applicants include agricultural entities and operations that fulfill all of the following requirements: • Agricultural entities must have a physical location 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 Islandbased 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. 4 o Applicants may seek program eligibility for operations not listed above by requesting an eligibility determination from DEM’s Chief of Agriculture. o The leasing of agricultural land to another agricultural operation is NOT considered agricultural income and does NOT count towards the agricultural income requirement. o 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.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
Not specified
Application Closes
Not specified
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