ODOE’S Rural & Agricultural Energy Assistance Program Heads into New Year with New Name and Informational Video

The Oregon Rural & Agricultural Energy Assistance Program (formerly Oregon Rural & Agricultural Energy Audit Program) is ready for its third year of helping rural Oregon small businesses and agricultural producers meet their energy goals! Heading into the new year, the program’s name has been updated to better reflect the broad range of support offered — and the ORAEA team invites interested folks to learn more through a new informational video (and help us spread the word!).

The ORAEA program offers support through a $100,000 grant awarded by the USDA Renewable Energy Development Assistance program. The grant helps fund energy assessments for agricultural producers and rural small businesses and can cover up to 75 percent of the total cost of the energy assessment. Energy Trust of Oregon also has incentives available to help cover the remaining cost for those served by one of the utilities Energy Trust represents.

Interested farms, ranches, and rural small businesses are encouraged to fill out an interest form with contact information and a short summary of operations and energy interests. The ORAEA team will schedule a call to understand needs and interests, explore options, answer questions, and mutually agree on next steps, which could include a draft scope of work for an energy assessment with an experienced energy auditor or a referral to one of our partner organizations. An energy assessment, or audit, helps identify potential energy projects, quantify savings, and prioritize projects based on cost, savings, and payback. Most energy assessments range from $4,000-$8,500.

More information – including how to sign up for program updates and responses to Frequently Asked Questions about the program – is available on ODOE’s website.