Agriculture Energy Audit Program
The Agriculture Energy Audit Program offers technical assistance to identify energy efficiency measures for eligible farms and on-farm producers, including but not limited to: dairies, orchards, greenhouses, vegetables, vineyards, grain dryers, and poultry/egg. NYSERDA will assign Flexible Technical Assistance (FlexTech) Program Consultants to perform energy audits for eligible farms.
In addition, greenhouse facilities can receive a free benchmarking report through the New York State Greenhouse database and benchmarking tool. The report describes energy-use intensity and benchmarks the facility against an anonymous aggregate of peer facilities.
Who Can Apply
Farms must be customers of a New York State investor-owned electric utility and pay the System Benefits Charge (SBC). Please check your farm’s current utility bills.
How it Works
Energy Audits
You can request the level of energy audit that best fits your farm’s needs. NYSERDA will assign a Flexible Technical Assistance Consultant to visit your farm and perform an energy audit at no cost to you.
| Level | Audit Activities | Type of Report that the Farm Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive | Detailed energy audit | Energy audit report with calculated evaluations of appropriate energy efficiency measures including simple payback; meets ANSI/ASABE S612 standards |
| Targeted | Energy audit focused on specific energy efficiency improvements, or a renewable energy system coupled with energy efficiency measures. | System-specific energy analysis report |
$3,500,000 is available to fund audits. NYSERDA reserves the right to extend and/or adjust funding for audits should other program funding sources become available.
Greenhouse Benchmarking
A grower can request a greenhouse benchmark report. NYSERDA will assign a FlexTech Program Consultant to visit the facility, collect data, and enter it into the State’s greenhouse database and benchmarking tool to generate the report. There will be no cost to the greenhouse facility for this service.
How to Apply
There are two ways to apply for an energy audit or a greenhouse benchmarking report:
- Complete the online Agriculture Energy Audit application
- Download and submit a the Agricultural Energy Audit application in English [PDF] or Spanish [PDF] via:
- Email to [email protected]
- Mail to:
NYSERDA
Attn: Agriculture Energy Audit Program Administrator
17 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203-6399
Additional Energy-Saving Opportunities
Completing an energy audit will provide a list of recommended energy efficiency upgrades and clean energy investments.
State, federal, and utility incentive programs [PDF] are available to help farmers and agricultural businesses reduce their energy use and invest in clean energy.
Contact
Energy Audits
Program Representative
1-800-732-1399
[email protected]
Greenhouse Benchmarking
Program Representative
[email protected]