The WNC Energy Cost-share Assistance Program (EnergyCAP) is now accepting grant applications from WNC farmers looking to fund energy projects for their operations.
The Small Farm Energy Grants Program is a new program funded exclusively by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. The program offers 25% cost-share grants for energy technologies that reduce farmer operating costs, lower environmental impacts, and increase the farm’s bottom line, such as LED lighting, greenhouse insulation and heating upgrades, and renewable energy generation from solar panels and other sources. The grant can be combined with USDA’s REAP grant (also a 25% cost-share) for a possible combined 50% cost-share.
“We get a lot of interest in grant funding for these projects from WNC farmers, but a lot of the time they need the process to offer more funding at the other end, or to be easier,” said Alex Arnold, the project coordinator for EnergyCAP. “We’re hoping this grant can be that funding bridge for farmers trying to cut down on their energy costs and energy usage.”
WNC EnergyCAP is a nonprofit program that provides free on-site or over-the-phone consultations on farm energy needs, as well as application assistance for farm energy grants. Since 2009, the program has facilitated over $480,000 in cost-share funding for the installation of over 70 energy projects for WNC farms, including 37 photovoltaic systems, 7 wind turbines, 7 solar hot water heating systems, a micro-hydro system, a biomass project, 3 passive solar greenhouses, and 2 geothermal greenhouse heating system.
“We have tried to make this application much more straightforward and easy to complete than what you might experience with the federal grant programs. But we can help farmers with the federal grant applications, too,” said Arnold.
To be eligible for the program, applicants must be persons engaged in agricultural production; current or former tobacco farmers will be given priority.
Applicants should contact the WNC EnergyCAP Project Coordinator immediately to set up a time to discuss their projects (info@energycap.org, 828-649-5115).
Resources for finding local energy professionals and self-assessing your energy needs can be found at www.energycap.org. Applications and further program details can be found at www.energycap.org/smallfarmenergy.
WNC EnergyCAP is a nonprofit partnership project of four WNC Resource Conservation and Development Councils: Blue Ridge RC&D, Carolina Land & Lakes RC&D, Mountain Valleys RC&D, and Southwestern RC&D. The coalition seeks to preserve farms, reduce carbon emissions, stimulate economic development, and conserve natural resources in WNC.
