Patrick Administration Announces Four Energy Grants to Agricultural Businesses

BOSTON – The Patrick Administration today announced four grants to help farmers across the Commonwealth maintain energy efficient buildings, improve heating systems and build systems that generate energy from manure and organic waste.

Awarded by the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR), grants totaling $125,000 will fund projects at farms in Bernardston, Sheffield and Westport, as well as a Boston-based organization’s project to support renewable energy systems at five dairy farms in Colrain, Granville, Hadley, Rutland and South Deerfield.

“We’re pleased to award these grants to help the Massachusetts agricultural industry adopt clean energy and energy efficient practices in their vibrant businesses,” Energy and Environment Secretary Ian Bowles said.

“Coupled with the initiative of the farming community, this program is opening up opportunities to grow green economies while addressing the high costs of energy,” DAR Commissioner Scott Soares said.

DAR’s Agricultural Energy Grants fund projects that support the use of agricultural anaerobic digesters – technology that generates energy from manure and organic waste – as well as projects that use energy-efficient building techniques and maximize renewable energy for minimum net energy consumed on an annual basis. Other grant recipients are projects that support farmers’ efforts to transition to cleaner-burning, high efficiency outdoor wood hydronic heaters, in compliance with Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regulations that took effect in December 2008.

Funding for the grants comes from the $1.7 billion Energy and Environment Bond Bill signed by Governor Patrick in August 2008. The grants fund the following projects:

Bernardston – Fullflight Game Farm: $22,400

To fund the replacement of two existing outdoor wood hydronic heaters.

Sheffield – Pine Island Farm: $34,800

To fund the partial construction costs for an anaerobic digester.

Westport – Santos Brothers Farm: $33,000

To fund the design of a new energy efficient cheese house and to renovate an existing barn into a storage area and visitor’s center.

Boston – SJH and Co.: $34,800

Funding for site planning and engineering for agricultural anaerobic digesters on five dairy farms in Colrain, Granville, Hadley, Rutland and South Deerfield.

For more information about DAR energy programs, visit www.mass.gov/agr/programs/energy/index.htm.

The DAR’s mission is to ensure the long-term viability of local agriculture in Massachusetts. Through its four divisions – Agricultural Development, Animal Health, Crop and Pest Services, and Technical Assistance – the DAR strives to support, regulate, and enhance the Commonwealth’s agricultural community, working to promote economically and environmentally sound food safety and animal health measures, and fulfill agriculture’s role in energy conservation and production.