Renewable Energy Development Assistance
Harnessing renewable energy sources such as wind and solar provides a clean source of energy that can benefit local businesses, rural economies, and the entire nation. Renewable energy systems can be used to increase energy efficiency and save money by cutting energy bills. Renewable energy systems are practical solutions for a variety of businesses—from sprawling farms to small, local shops—and we can help your business find the solution that fits your needs.
We can provide renewable energy site assessments and renewable energy technical assistance for your business. Eligible renewable systems include:
- Biomass (for example: biodiesel and ethanol, anaerobic digestors, and solid fuels).
- Geothermal for electric generation.
- Hydropower below 30 megawatts.
- Hydrogen.
- Small and large wind generation.
- Small and large solar generation.
- Ocean (tidal, current, thermal) generation.
Energy Audits
Energy audits are used to help businesses maximize energy efficiency, reduce waste, and improve productivity. Through energy audits, personnel can evaluate energy reduction opportunities for a variety of energy systems.
We can perform energy audits at a heavily reduced rate to determine where your business can implement projects to help lower your monthly energy bills. Through an energy audit report, we can provide quantitative payback estimates to help you get appropriate value out of a potential project. Examples of projects include:
- High efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC).
- Lighting.
- Cooling or refrigeration units.
- Doors and windows.
- Insulation.
- Motors.
- Electric solar, or gravity pumps for sprinkler pivots.
- Replacement of energy-inefficient equipment.
Disclaimer: We are required by USDA to charge 25% of our total costs of the audit to the recipient. This money goes back into helping other small businesses and agricultural producers. Cost can range from $150 to $1,000, depending on factors including location, complexity of assessment, and annual energy usage ($/yr).