Agricultural Energy Program

May 21, 2025

Summary

The Agricultural Energy program provides grants to agricultural businesses in the state to improve their energy efficiency and promote adoption of renewable energy technologies.

Eligibility

Only agricultural businesses are eligible to apply for the program. The agricultural operations may include horticulture, viticulture, floriculture, forestry, stabling of horses, dairy farming, aquaculture, the raising of livestock (including the production of fiber), furbearing animals, poultry, or bees. The business must have produced at least $2,500 in annual income from farming operations.

The program funds both energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Energy efficiency projects may include technologies to improve efficiency of the farm. Eligible renewable energy sources include photovoltaics, small-scale wind, solar thermal, and energy storage. Any other farm related energy efficiency and renewable energy projects will be considered.

Program description

The program provides grants up to $20,000 to help with direct costs associated with implementing the project. There is an applicant cost-share requirement of at least 10% of total project costs, but projects that demonstrate other sources for funding are more likely to be funded.

Higher priority will be given to non-utility scale, or non-large scale commercial projects that demonstrate predominately agriculturally related renewable energy use.

The farm operation must have performed or initiated an energy efficiency audit prior to the submittal of the application.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector:	State
Category:	Financial Incentive
State:	Rhode Island
Incentive Type:	Grant Program
Web Site:	https://energy.ri.gov/energy-efficiency/farm-energy-programs
Administrator:	Office of Energy Resources
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Solar Space Heat Solar Thermal Process Heat Solar Photovoltaics Biomass Building Insulation Motor VFDs Wind (Small) LED Lighting HVAC Lithium-ion
Incentive Amount:	up to $20,000
Maximum Incentive:	90% of costs
Equipment Requirements:	See program guidance
Installation Requirements:	See program guidance All the projects must be completed within a year of the award

Incentives

This program has 1 incentives

Technologies:	Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Solar Photovoltaics, Biomass, Building Insulation, Motor VFDs, Wind (Small), LED Lighting, HVAC, Lithium-ion
Sectors:	Agricultural
Parameters:	The incentive has a minimum of $20000.00, The incentive has a minimum of 90.00 % of cost

Authorities

Name:	Program Guidance
Effective Date:	08/01/2024

Contact

Name:	RI Division of Agriculture
Organization:	RI Department of Environmental Management
Address:	235 Promenade Street Providence RI 02908
Phone:	(401) 222-2781

Name:	Abigail Hasenfus
Organization:	RI Office of Energy Resources
Address:	One Capitol Hill Providence RI 02908
Phone:	(+40) 157-4911
Email:	abigail.hasenfus@energy.ri.gov

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.