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A - Z index of Programs and Services
MA Farm Energy Discount Program
"What you can do to start saving money and prepare for the MFEP" [PDF]
Energy Related Funding Programs for Massachusetts Agriculture Matrix [PDF]
Mass. Farm Energy Program News -
Live Wire [pdf]
Other DAR Program Categories
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Technical Assistance and Resource Programs
Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Renewables Program
The MDAR Energy Program’s primary function is to promote energy knowledge and awareness and to facilitate the implementation of energy related projects for our agri-businesses through energy efficiency, energy conservation and renewable energy applications, as a means to reduce both energy costs and environmental pollution. A number of data bases of relevant resources are being developed and informative web-links are being identified to assist in your ability to obtain technical and financial assistance toward energy related matters for your agricultural business.
New Massachusetts Farm Energy Program:
News update - The new Massachusetts Farm Energy Program (MFEP) has launched
its new website: www.berkshirepioneerrcd.org/mfep. Please refer to the site for all program information including an Energy
Information Form and grant writing assistance for USDA's 9006 Program.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Massachusetts
Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) recently announced a Massachusetts
Farm Energy Program to be developed and implemented by the USDA’s Resource
Conservation & Development Areas (RC&D’s). See the October-November
Farm & Market Report edition for details. Providing farms technical
assistance for energy efficiency, energy conservation and renewable energy,
a major emphasis of this program will be to collaborate with all of the
existing energy programs and organizations to ensure a successful integration
of the new program with all existing programs. The program is expected
to start in 2008 with initial planning beginning this Fall.
As part of the New Farm Energy Program, a revised Energy Information Survey Form will be utilized replacing that previous posted on this site. Please take a moment and fill it out. Those who completed and returned the original form on this site will be notified directly by email. Directions for returning the form are stated therein.
For relevant energy related
links, please refer to the right-hand side of this page. These links provide a
variety of technical and financial information, some generic, some specific to
local programs and organizations.
Please continue to visit this web
page for further updates and developments. For more information, please
contact:
Gerry Palano
Renewable Energy Coordinator
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
251 Causeway Street, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1706, Gerald.Palano@state.ma.us
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Cider Hill Farm, Amesbury – Photovoltaic array
Lion Spring Farm, Dover – combined Photovoltaic & Wind Power
Related Information:
- University of Massachusetts Extension - "Renewable Energy Resources
for Massachusetts Farms and Greenhouses"
http://www.umass.edu/agland/green_energy/index.html
This website includes sources of advisors and contractors, financial incentives, energy conservation and details for using renewable energy such as solar, wind, biomass and geothermal to help growers and farmers add renewable energy to their farming or greenhouse operation.
- attra.ncat.org/energy.php : This website has tons of energy information including related links
for a variety of farm and agricultural types, including user friendly tool
kits for calculating energy savings.
- www.sebane.org/index.html : This is the Solar Energy Business Associates of New England website,
providing installers, developers, consultants, etc. relative to the New
England area.
- www.mtpc.org : The website for the MA Technology Collaborative Renewable Energy Trust,
the quasi-governmental agency responsible for administering clean electric
energy programs throughout the state for participating electric utilities.
This website offers a complete and wide variety of technical and financial
information as well as available incentives relative to renewable energy
applications.
- www.awea.org/smallwind : The website for the American Wind Energy Association, probably the most
informative website for all types of wind related activities. Includes
good technical information and how-to’s.
- http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/section9006rule.pdf: This link is USDA’s Final Rule regarding their Renewable Energy Systems
and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant, Guaranteed Loan and Direct Loan
Program. This is the program that originated in the 2002 Farm Bill as Section
9006 and provides funding opportunities for renewable energy and energy
efficiency projects. Familiarity with this document is essential to your
ability to get USDA financial assistance for your energy related projects.
The USDA’s Rural Development Program coordinator for MA is:
Sharon Colburn, USDA RD, Amherst, (413) 253-4303, sharon.colburn@ma.usda.gov
- http://www.ceere.org/rerl/about_wind: This is a very informative wind webpage of the University of Massachusetts
Amherst Renewable Energy Research Laboratory (RERL). Some great rules of
thumb and very educational & helpful for those wanting to explore their
wind potential.
- http://www.nesea.org: The website of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, an organization
devoted to energy sustainability. Here you can find technical information,
events, members and extensive “yellow pages” of professionals involved
with energy.
- http://www.bioenergyupdate.com/magazine/securityBioenergy
%20Update%2008-05/bioenergy_update_August%202005.htm: production tax credit information
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http://i-farmtools.org/i-farm/default.asp : I-FARM short description - I-FARM is a database-driven farming systems
simulation model that predicts economic returns and ecosystem impacts of
farm operations, integrating both crop and livestock components. I-FARM
was developed by Iowa State University to provide free access to farmers
and decision makers, and currently handles up to 50 users simultaneously.
Free web access of I-FARM (http://i-farmtools.org)
provides powerful and comprehensive farmer decision-tool potential.
Just about three years into development, I-FARM currently focuses on agro-ecosystems
across the upper Midwest. Weather and soils data of 28 states are currently
accessible from a database. The model offers the selection of a range of
crops and crop rotations, with the associated practices as tillage, fertilization,
planting, weed control, harvesting, and residue removal. Livestock production
is modeled based on feed intake, growth rate, grazing or confinement options,
and manure management systems.
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