Home » Governor announces on-farm energy efficiency, production recipients

Governor announces on-farm energy efficiency, production recipients

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 24, 2012) – Gov. Steve Beshear today announced the awarding of nearly $700,000 in On-Farm Energy Efficiency and Production grants from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund (KADF).

“In January, the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, which I chair, announced the availability of $2 million from KADF to continue providing farmers the opportunity to increase farm energy efficiency or renewable energy production,” Beshear said.  “I am pleased to announce that through the first round of applications, 81 farm families from 36 counties were able to take advantage of this opportunity.”

The on-farm energy incentives program provides 25 percent reimbursement of the actual cost of a qualified energy saving item, up to $10,000.  Permissible items include, but are not limited to, energy audits, energy efficient farm building components, on-farm energy upgrades and on-farm energy efficiency training.

Examples of on-farm efficiency investments include Henkle’s Herbs & Heirlooms, of Jessamine County, for greenhouse improvements and Gray Poultry Farm, of Clinton County, for poultry house improvements. Examples of renewable energy investments include Kelley Farms, of Carlisle County, to invest in solar panels for their farm operations and Mac Farms, of Taylor County, for an anaerobic digester to produce gas for heating poultry houses.

A complete list of recipients by county can be viewed here.

The 2012 KADF On-farm Energy Efficiency and Production Incentives Program is designed to help achieve the goals of Beshear’s “Intelligent Energy Choices for Kentucky’s Future: Kentucky’s 7-Point Energy Strategy,” and will be part of the effort to meet 18 percent of Kentucky’s energy needs from efficiency improvements by 2025.

For questions about the application process for the KADF On-farm Energy Incentives Program, please contact Bill McCloskey or Angie Justice at 1-502-564-4627 or [email protected]. The application is also available online at ag-energy.ky.gov.  The deadline for Round 2 applications is June 30.