Past Programs
Texas Agricultural Technical Assistance Program
In 2008-2009, EnSave worked with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to design and deliver a program to offer free energy audits to Texas agricultural producers. The program also offered free technical assistance to farms that did not qualify for an energy audit.
Through its partnership with the National Association of Resource Conservation & Districts, EnSave partnered with Texas Resource Conservation & Development Councils to train them on the data collection procedure, and to encourage program promotion.
EnSave promoted the program opportunity to manufacturers, equipment dealers, the extended agricultural community, and farmers. EnSave also hosted four informational events in Texas, held four data collector trainings, and worked with USDA Rural Development to coordinate three trainings for Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant writers.
By August 2009, EnSave completed energy audits for 68 Texas agricultural producers, and provided 32 technical assistance reports. These reports identified $1.1 million in annual energy savings among all fuels (electricity, propane, natural gas, and diesel).
Maryland Farm Energy Site Assessment Program, Phase II
Phase II is offered audits to western Maryland farmers. It brought in new program partners and also offered cash incentives to producers who installed energy efficient equipment recommended through the program. The second phase of the program provided farm energy audits to 50 Maryland farmers.
Alabama Farm Energy Audit Program
Building on the successful pilot program run in 2007, In April of 2008, EnSave trained RC&D representatives to provide data collection for farm energy audits.
Renewable Energy and Conservation Pilot Project, Louisiana
EnSave worked with the Acadiana RC&D to provide farm energy audits to farmers enrolled in the Renewable Energy and Conservation Pilot project in Louisiana.
Wisconsin Public Service Farm Audit Program
EnSave provided energy audits to Wisconsin Public Service Corporation's farm customers through the utility's Farm Rewiring Program.
Diesel Emission Reduction Program, Washington State
The Diesel Emission Reduction Program was a partnership with Upper Columbia Resource Conservation and Development Council and Blue Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council. The program educated farmers in Eastern Washington about no-till direct seeding and provided incentives for every acre switched from conventional tillage to no-till direct seeding. The program was funded with a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Ag Efficiency Plus, California
Ag Efficiency Plus was a program of Southern California Edison's Agricultural Energy Efficiency Program, operated by Global Energy Partners, LLC and EnSave, Inc. (Global/EnSave). Ag Efficiency Plus was an energy efficiency program available to all Southern California Edison agricultural and food processing customers. The program provided information and cash incentives for energy efficient new construction and retrofit equipment, and also provided free energy audits.
Central Vermont Public Service Corporation, Vermont
Completed on-site farm energy audits. Coordinated with customers and trade allies to install recommended measures.
Massachusetts Electric Corporation
Subcontracted to RCE, Inc. for on-site farm energy audits for Massachusetts and New Hampshire customers.
Minnesota Department of Commerce
Conducted a pilot farm energy audit program for Minnesota farmers. This small audit program was used to gauge the opportunity for full-scale farm energy programs in the state.
NYSERDA, New York
Funded through the New York State Legislature, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and augmented by National Grid's Economic Development Program, EnSave offered farm energy audits to farmers in New York's Montgomery and Schenectady counties. EnSave also offered cash incentives towards the purchase of energy efficient farm equipment.
Otter Tail Power Company, Minnesota
Conducted a pilot farm energy audit program to evaluate the potential for a large-scale farm energy program.
Vermont Public Power Supply Authority
Provided farm energy audits, measure installation facilitation and farm energy educational support to utilities under the Authority. Contractors to nineteen of Vermont's twenty-three utilities worked with hundreds of farms over a three-year period. Every participating farm received a full technical audit along with education.
Washington Electric Cooperative, Vermont
Provided dairy farm energy audits, presentations, education and measure installation facilitation. Provided analysis and recommendations for water heater fuel switching. Each farm audit consisted of an educational component and technical farm energy support.
Xcel Energy, Minnesota
Delivered farm energy audits to a full spectrum of Xcel Energy farm customers. These farm energy audits were augmented by cash incentives offered to agricultural producers to install energy efficient measures.
Alliant Energy, Iowa
Surveyed electricians, farm equipment dealers, and related businesses to develop a database of trade allies for Alliant Energy. This identification of trade allies allowed Alliant Energy to market rebates to specific dealers that sell, lease, install and service energy efficient measures.
Central Maine Power Corporation, Maine
Conducted a pilot data gathering program, surveying agricultural customers ranging from greenhouse operations to dairy farms. EnSave developed educational materials for distribution to all dairy customers.
California Public Utilities Commission
Promoted the milking vacuum pump variable speed drive, and offered cash incentives on the technology. This program was funded by California ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission, and delivered to dairy customers of Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, and San Diego Gas & Electric.
Green Mountain Power Corporation, Vermont
Conducted project management to coordinate with customers and trade allies to install energy efficient measures.
Honeywell DMC Services, Inc., Wisconsin
Conducted a farm energy conservation program for Wisconsin Electric Power Company and delivered energy conservation measures through trade allies and directly to the farm customer.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Operated under the Pennsylvania Environmental and Energy Challenge (PEEC) Grant, EnSave encouraged dairy farmers in the Northwest region of Pennsylvania to install milking vacuum pump variable speed drives. EnSave also provided each participant with information about the hazards of mercury within the dairy industry.
Wisconsin Electric Power Company
Operated a multi-year (1998-2000) farm energy conservation program that delivered energy efficient measures through farm equipment dealers, electricians and directly to the farmers.
Southern California Edison
Operated the Agricultural Ventilation Fan Efficiency Program from 2005-2006. This eighteen month program promoted the installtion of energy efficient ventilation fans for agricultural producers. Offered rebates on the installation of fans. Funded through Southern California Edison's Innovative Designs for Energy Efficiency Applications (IDEEA) Program.
Minnesota Department of Commerce
EnSave operated the Minnesota Farm Energy Conservation Improvement Program for customers of Xcel Energy (May 2005- December 2006) as well as Minnesota Power and Alliant Energy - Interstate Power and Light Co. (May 2005- April 2006). The program offered the utilities' farm customers farm energy audits and cash incentives on a range of energy efficiency measures.
Michigan Variable Speed Drive (VSD) Farm Program
EnSave ran this program for the Michigan Public Utilities Commission (MPUC). Over the course of the one-year program, EnSave eduated Michigan dairy producers about the benefits of a VSD and how it saves energy on the farm. 107 dairy producers, 60 dairy equipment dealers and 12 VSD manufacturers participated in the program. It saved a total of 3 million kWh, and delivered $255,000 in energy cost savings to participating farmers.
