Energy

Fossil based energy is the primary driver of climate change. This page organizes by land-user and energy conservation or energy production:

farmers – efficiency (buildings, equipment, reduced tractor passes, etc)

farmers – renewable energy infrastructure (solar, wind, rng etc)

homeowners – efficiency (insulation, windows, heat pumps, EVs, etc)

homeowners – renewable energy (rooftop solar, battery storage etc)

landscapers (electrifying landscaping equipment, naturalizing landscapes etc)

other landowners

Key strategies for landowners, farmers, businesses, and citizens to reduce fossil based energy focus on 2 basic concepts.

1. energy efficiency/conservation/electrification (reduce demand for fossil energy)
2. renewable energy (produce alternative energy sources)

Note, this page is a work in progress.

FARM – energy efficiency

CONTEXT: Farms in Western New York counties are playing a vital role in the overall success of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Agriculture Energy Audit Program (AEAP). In Erie and Niagara Counties alone 82 farms have participated and received no-cost energy audits through the AEAP. The estimated annual energy cost savings from these 82 farms is $677,443. equipment and system modifications, if installed, mean on-farm fuel savings, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and a stronger and more sustainable agriculture community.

Collaborative Opportunities for Farms

• Agriculture Energy Audit Program (AEAP): This program offers NY state farmers no-cost energy audits to help identify energy efficiency opportunities on their farm. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Agriculture-Energy-Assistance/Agriculture-Energy-Audit
• REAP Technical Assistance Program (RTAP): This program has been designed to assist farmers at no cost to make applications to the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). If awarded, farmers can receive reimbursement for up to 50% of the total project cost. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Agriculture-Energy-Assistance/REAP-Technical-Assistance-Program
• Energy Best Practices for Agriculture: The best practices have been developed to help educate producers about energy efficient technologies, how they function, the average cost, as well as an average payback in years. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Agriculture-Energy-Assistance/Energy-Best-Practices-for-Agriculture
• AgEnergyNY: Agricultural sectors other than dairy and greenhouse operations can receive assistance both with no-cost energy audits and with assistance in identifying grants, loans, and rebates to support energy conservation work. https://agenergyny.org
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) EQIP On-Farm Energy Initiative: The Environmental Quality Incentives program through USDA NRCS provides direct payments both for energy audits and for select energy conservation measures. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/on-farm-energy-initiative
• USDA Rural Development energy efficiency programs: A variety of grants are available to support both energy efficiency and renewable energy production and use. https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/energy-programs. REAP/RTAP referred to above is designed to help farms through the planning and application process.

To learn more about these programs, click: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Agriculture-Energy-Assistance

• Jordon Miller, Contractor on behalf of NYSERDA, EnSave Inc., 802-434-1872, or Toll Free 800-732-1399, jordanm@ensave.com, (ensave.com)
• Gabriel Gurley, Ag Energy NY Program Manager, Cornell Cooperative Extension-Tompkins, (607) 272-2292 ext.248, rg523@cornell.edu

FARM – renewable energy production

SOLAR

• Guillermo Metz, Ag Energy NY Program Lead, 607-272-2292 x185, gm52@cornell.edu

WIND

RNG

HOME OWNERS – energy efficiency

Energy Conservation for Homes and Businesses

NYSERDA is funding a network of clean energy conservation “hubs” across New York State for coordinating home and business assistance for:

• Home Energy Surveys
• Energy Efficiency & Weatherization
• Clean Heating and Cooling
• Rooftop Solar
• Community Solar
• Green Jobs
• Health and Safety

Seven partner organizations, under the leadership of PUSH Green are collaborating to support this NYSERDA-funded initiative.

HOME OWNERS – renewable energy

ROOFTOP SOLAR

GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS