Fall is a Good Time to Assess Energy Use and Costs with ODOE's Rural & Agricultural Energy Audit Program

With Oregon’s fall harvest wrapping up and planning underway for next year, now is the perfect time to learn about the Oregon Department of Energy’s Rural & Agricultural Energy Audit Program.

As you may know, ODOE was awarded a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which we will use to help pay for up to 75 percent of the cost of an energy audit for Oregon agricultural producers and rural small businesses.

An energy audit may include inspection of buildings, processes, and/or equipment to analyze energy consumption and identify efficiency improvements to reduce a business’s energy use and costs. Energy audits can help prioritize potential improvement projects based on energy savings, payback period, and other factors. An energy audit is required for some incentive applications (such as USDA’s REAP programs), and is helpful in funding and investment planning. 

If you would like to apply for energy audit assistance, or would just like to discuss energy efficiency at your operation, please fill out our online interest form. Include as much information as you can (it's okay if you don't have answers for everything), and one of our program staff will connect with you. Gathering information about your site’s energy use (recent utility and/or energy bills) and information about any energy efficiency projects you are interested in will help in completing the form. More information about the program is available on our website and in our FAQ document.