In an effort to help farmers move toward more energy efficient and profitable operations, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Energy Center has developed a $3 million energy efficiency cost-share grant program under Energize Missouri Agriculture.  What is this program?

The department is offering the energy efficiency cost-share grants to agricultural operations statewide for agricultural energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy equipment. The department’s Energy Center modeled the reimbursement element of the grant program after the county soil and water conservation districts’ cost-share program. Funding is provided by the Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  What does the program offer?

The program offers cost-share grants to farm operators, owners or renters. The energy efficiency cost-share grant program reimburses farmers up to 75 percent of the purchase cost of qualifying energy efficient equipment and systems, up to $5,000 per applicant.  Some farms are divided into multiple tax units. Each individual tax unit that owns part of a farm unit is eligible for a cost-share grant, but the units must be owned by different individuals. A farm is defined as any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold during the year. What kinds of projects are eligible?

Items eligible for reimbursement include purchased energy efficient equipment and hardware, but do not include time and labor spent installing or operating the equipment. The Energy Center has identified equipment and systems that qualify for funding (see Eligible Projects or Systems); however, the department is also looking for new and innovative technologies that can be applied to agricultural energy efficiency. What projects are not eligible?

Purchased equipment and hardware are eligible but not time and labor. Transfer of ownership of equipment before five years will require Energy Center approval, or reimbursement to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Equipment purchased prior to signing a contract is
not eligible. In addition to projects list above, the Department of Natural Resources employees and their immediate families are not eligible to receive the cost-share grants. F

Click here to download Energy Center Fact Sheet.

Source:  Missouri Department of Natural Resources