Special Report

Helping farmers use energy more efficiently

Today’s farms use a lot of energy and with that comes the chance to waste a lot of energy. Focus on Energy partners with Wisconsin utilities to help farms, homeowners and businesses find ways to be more energy efficient. Nicole Zaidel is an Energy Advisor with FOE, she says right now they are offering incentives to install energy-efficient fans in dairy barns and other agricultural applications. There are also programs for installing variable-speed motors on vacuum pumps, plate coolers for milk, more efficient lights in freestall barns. As an example Statz Brothers Farm is going to receive a $500,000 grant for their anaerobic digester installation. Zaidel says there are incentives for installing digesters on farms with fewer than 700 animals as well. Applications for those grants are currently being accepted. Details are available at www.focusonenergy.com