Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District

“to protect and enhance Maine's soil and water resources by providing educational programs, conservation information and technical assistance to municipalities, schools, landowners and residents of Kennebec County."

Conservation Innovation Grant - Energy Audit & Energy Conservation Practices --

 

See links to other materials below.

We have previously announced that the Kennebec District was awarded one of the CIG (Conservation Innovation Grants) from a national NRCS competition. It is approximately a $120,000 project over two years. It is targeted at energy conservation on farms in Kennebec County.

The CIG project will 1) build on existing energy audits to create an audit system that encompasses all farm activities and puts more farmers in a position to use more USDA and other programs; 2) introduce more producers to the newest energy-saving technologies for a variety of farm types; and 3) deliver measurable energy cost savings and carbon reductions. Results:1) At least 30 producers in Kennebec County will have undergone the Whole Farm Energy Audit. At a minimum the audit prepares farmers for the broadest slate of energy programs: State incentive programs for energy-saving technologies, the USDA 9006 program, as well as a number of EQIP farm practices (e.g., crop rotation, green manure). It is expected that the project will result in recommendation to adopt specific practices as NRCS standards and practices for future use in cost-share programs. A thorough assessment of the cost-efficiency of the pilot project, lessons learned, and feasibility for expansion will be included in the Final Report. The results and recommendations for expansion will be communicated to the farming communities in the State, the National and State USDA offices, and State energy programs throughout New England.

If you want to check out the entire NRCS website and see what other types of projects were selected in this grant competition, click the link below and use it to review a list of all the selected projects-      http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true

John Blais is the Kennebec District person leading this project. You can give him a call or send him an e-mail by clicking here.

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Check out a presentation on how Dairy Farms use energy.

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Check out a calculator to determine energy use on a dairy farm               This is a presentation that provides you methods for figuring out energy usage and ways to conserve. It is not one of those fancy calculator programs but still interesting.

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A brief review of the project and how the Farm Energy Audits work for farmers. Click here.

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Here is a powerpoint presentation which was used at the Grassland Farm Energy Workshop. Click here.

 

UPDATE ON PROGRESS  thru 3/31/08  -  the first 5 months of the project

Just to provide people with a brief update on the CIG Energy Audit project  - 

v       An energy auditor training was completed on January 15th. Approximately 65-70 people attended the workshop.

v        John presented at the April 3rd Energy, Climate and Agriculture seminar at MOFGA

v        Fifteen dairy farmers have applied to have energy audits done on their farms.

v       Of those, 10 energy audits have been complete by Efficiency Maine Auditors.