Gidgets & Gadgets
The Agrificient LED™ is the perfect solution for lighting problems found in agricultural facilities—and Zenergy’s got them! The rugged, onepiece, low profile design, installs easily without any wiring or adapters; by simply screwing into the threads of the popular “jelly jar” type housing.
The ultra-tough-nylon shell, and poly carbonate lens make it virtually unbreakable. The exclusive active thermal management system (patent
pending) provides the longest LED life in the ag industry and the waterproof design will not fill up with water, bugs or harbor bacteria.
There may be utility rebates as well; call and talk to Jeff at 218-837-1330 for more information.
visit us online:
www.zenergyguide.com
Ph: 218-837-5155
Ph: 1-888-ZEN-RG4U (888-936-7448)
Fx: 218-837-5001
info@zenergyguide.com
ZENERGY
308 Frontage Road
PO Box 304
Sebeka, MN 56477
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Spotlight on..
Funding Updates
Gidgets & Gadgets
Factoid
Solar in
Agriculture
USDA REAP
Renewable
Energy Grant
Program
Agrificient
LEDs
Ongoing
programs
for farms
the
Fall 2015
Current
The future of energy, now.
Zenergy
Featured
Profile
Factoid
Q) Are there any special incentive
programs for farmers interested in
renewable energy?
Yes! There are a number of ongoing
programs as well as special opportunities for farms.
Farms qualify for most utility rebate
programs and the 30% federal tax credit
whether they’re a large operation or a
family farm. However, different forms
and/or incentives rates may apply.
If at least 50% of your gross income
comes from farming, then you can also
apply to the USDA Rural Energy for
America Loan and Grant Program, which
provides loan guarantees on loans up to
75%, grants for up to 25%, or combined
grant and loan guarantee funding up to
75% of total eligible project costs. Loan
applications are taken throughout the
year. Application deadlines are November 2 for grants under $20,000, and
again May 2, 2016 for all sized grant
applications.
Groups such as Minnesota’s Clean
Energy Resource Teams (CERTS) also
provide occasional funds for agricultural energy efficiency and renewable
energy projects, such as a recent “Toasty
Turkeys” solar heat and LED lighting
program for turkey barns.
Want help finding funds for your
renewable energy
project?
Saving money while saving the planet with solar-powered barns.
Spotlight on... Solar in Agriculture
With consumers demanding more sustainable
and humanely raised foods, several big
food chains are responding by requiring
that their meat producers become verifiably
“sustainable”. But meeting this rapidly
growing demand has been a big challenge for
U.S. pork producers.
possible with efficiency upgrades. Eventually,
on-site renewable electric generation
could bring the buildings close to net-zero
(producing as much energy as is used).
The University of Minnesota West Central
Research and Outreach Center (WCROC)
is searching for ways to help farmers meet
the new demands with economically and
sustainably produced high-quality pork,
while maintaining a healthy and profitable
farm. Their research farm site in Morris,
Minnesota includes conventional as well
as alternative housing facilities including a
deep-bed, group-housed farrowing barn,
and hoop barns for sow gestation, breeding,
and finishing pigs. Ultimately, researchers at
the WCROC want to investigate and discover
different methods or techniques to provide
education to producers.
WCROC took a big step in this direction this
summer when the Zenergy team installed
a ~27 kW solar PV array on the roof of a
finishing barn. The array consists of 96
Heliene 280 watt solar panels with Solar Edge
power optimizers on each module. Three
inverters by SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.
convert the DC power to 3-phase AC power
that is used by the building, with any extra
sold back to the electric utility. The array is
expected to produce about 35,760 kWh per
year. With common rebate programs such
as those below, the system could pay for
itself within about 5 years. But if you add to
those savings the higher prices that can be
obtained by meeting the growing demand
for sustainably produced meat, the financial
picture looks even better.
The facilities are also being used to
demonstrate energy-efficient retrofits. Typical
swine farms can be real energy “hogs”, with
high building heating and ventilation needs,
electric loads, and vehicle fuel use. The
WCROC is working to convert all energy loads
to electricity and make these loads as small as
Eric Buchanan, Renewable Energy Scientist at
WCROC said of the project, “We were really
pleased with the Zenergy team. They were
efficient, professional, and finished on time
without disrupting operations in the barn. The
system is working well and on track to make
the finishing barn ‘Net Zero’.”
Funding Updates
Made in Minnesota (MiM) Production Based Solar PV Program
Get ready now to submit your application for 2016!
A good way to stay informed on opportunities, in addition to subscribing
to the Zenergy newsletter, is to receive
Funding Opportunity Notifications from
the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Go to this website and sign up
for the RSS feed: http://mn.gov/commerce/energy/businesses/financial/
funding-opportunities.jsp
The next application window is January 1 – February 28, 2016 for customers in Xcel Energy,
Minnesota Power and Ottertail Power service territories. Solar PV arrays certified as made in
Minnesota receive Production Based Incentives (PBIs) which pay the customer annually for ten
years based on the actual kilowatt hours (kWh) produced. The program is open to for-profit
commercial, non-profit/public, and residential systems, and is issued on a lottery basis. Other
Minnesota utilities also offer rebates for solar installations.
To help you sort through all of the programs and rules, Jeff Brandt, Zenergy’s
Energy Consultant, is here to help! As
a certified PV site assessor, Jeff follows
the various funding programs closely
and can work with you to find the
incentive programs that best fit your
project. Give Jeff a call at 218-8371330.
For more information on these and many other renewable energy incentive
programs, visit www.dsireusa.org or contact Zenergy at 888-936-7448.
2016 is the last year for 30% federal tax credit--another good reason to start planning your
2016 project! After that the credit is slated to drop to 10%.