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Working together, Maine farmers save energy, improve the environment & strengthen their bottom lines.
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May 2011
We know it's a busy season on the farm, but if you can, please join us for a workshop on heating with recycled heating oil on Wednesday (see left column). In addition, we continue to welcome your input on Farm Energy Partners' strategy for the next four years. Contact Claudia Lowd to get involved: call her at 949-5106 or email claudia@mainerural.org.
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Reducing Greenhouse
Heating Costs is
No Laughing Matter!
Wednesday, May 18
10:00-11:30am at Laughing Stock Farm
79 Wardtown Road - Freeport, Maine
No registration required. Contact Claudia Lowd for directions if you plan to attend.
Learn about systems for heating with recycled cooking oil from farm owner Ralph Turner. Laughing Stock Farm heats their greenhouses all winter with Triglyceride Burner Fuel (TBF) -- used animal fats and vegetable oils collected from local restaurants. This arrangement saves the restaurants $8,000 in waste oil disposal fees and reduces the farm's cost to grow food for local restaurants and winter CSA customers.
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NRCS Implementation and Audit Assistance Deadline
Application Deadline for FY 2011 Programs:
Thursday, June 30
We all know that funding for assistance programs may change significantly in next year's federal budget. This is your last chance to take advantage of EQIP programs using FY2011 funds.
In addition to the other EQIP programs, eligible farms can get a comprehensive audit of their energy usage at just 10-25% of the full cost. These audits can investigate potential savings from altered field management equipment and practices instead of or in addition to auditing built structures as is done in other energy audit programs. |
Broadband Infrastructure Funding Opportunity
Application Deadline:
Monday, June 6
The ConnectME Authority is looking for creative solutions for expanding affordable broadband service to the unserved areas of Maine. For this round, the Authority is again requesting smaller, focused proposals with a suggested grant limit for each project of $100,000. ConnectME will fund no more than 50% of the total project, with some flexibility for exceptional proposals.
Rural broadband enables farmers to access technical assistance resources, new record-keeping tools and expanded markets.
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FEP Renewable Energy Team at Wind Blade Challenge
Farm Energy Partners is a sponsor of today's Maine Wind Blade Challenge and Windstorm Challenge at the University of Maine in Orono. High school students will compete to design efficient turbines and blades with business plans for implementation.
Our Renewable Energy Team is meeting at the Challenge this morning to work on our strategy for accomplishing the team's goals from this spring's strategic planning process. Our efficiency team met earlier this week, and the financial team will be meeting on May 19.
If you would like to participate in one of these team meetings or would otherwise like to participate in planning the programs of Farm Energy Partners, please contact Claudia Lowd (cleanenergy@mainerural.org / 949-5106).
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Successful Geothermal
Greenhouse Tour! Twelve participants (and two local TV stations) attended a very successful workshop at Hutchings Greenhouse in Eddington to learn more about their open-loop geothermal heating system. The system's installer, Dan Herweg from Airotherm in Brewer, explained the system's technical design and related issues. Three participants came from over 3
hours away and left the workshop eager to install a geothermal system to reduce their $40,000 heating bill!
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Rural Energy for America Program
Last Application Deadline for FY2011 Funding:
Thursday, June 30
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides grants and guaranteed loans to agricultural producers and rural small businesses. These funds can be used to conduct energy audits and feasibility studies for renewable energy systems, for renewable energy development assistance, and to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. Up to 25% of a project's cost can be funded through this program.
For more information, visit Maine's USDA Rural Development website or contact John Sheehan (john.sheehan@me.usda.gov). |
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Got Information to Share?
If you know about events or information of interest to the broader Farm Energy Partners network, please pass them along to newsletters@mainerural.org and we'll consider them for possible inclusion in a future edition of this Harvesting Clean Energy newsletter. Thank you for your help in making this a useful resource for Maine's farming community!
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