Felipe Jimenez of Jimenez Farms in Milton-Freewater, Ore., examines his drip irrigation system. Since 2019, the upgrades Jimenez has made to his farm have produced an estimated 33% energy savings, 13% water savings and roughly $3,700 in saved labor costs, all while increasing his crop yield by 10%.

Energy Trust of Oregon and the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) are sharing a booth at the 2024 Central Oregon Ag Show to provide growers with comprehensive information about energy-saving opportunities available in Oregon.

One of its most exciting opportunities is ODOE’s Oregon Rural and Agricultural Energy Assistance Program, which helps fund energy assessments for Oregon farms and ranches and rural small businesses through a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Having such assessments are valuable and, in some cases, necessary when applying for assistance from certain sources, including the USDA Rural Energy Assistance Program. It offers both grants and loan guarantees to rural small businesses and agricultural producers for energy-saving improvements.

ODOE administers the USDA funds to help these businesses by covering up to 75% of the cost of an energy assessment.

Further, these recipients are allowed to meet their 25% cost share through other, non-federal funding sources.

For Oregon customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural Gas, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista utilities, Energy Trust can support the remaining 25% of project costs through cash incentives for energy-efficiency upgrades.

“Many customers participating in ODOE’s program can also qualify for cash incentives from Energy Trust,” Whitney Rideout, Energy Trust of Oregon program manager, said. “We can work with them to identify eligible upgrades, answer questions and connect them to qualified contractors who can install upgrades.

“We can even help participants with the application process.”

Visiting the ODOE and Energy Trust booth is a great “one-stop shop” for learning how to combine Energy Trust incentives with many other local resources such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Sustainable Northwest.

“We’re here to help customers understand the many different energy efficiency programs available for growers,” Rideout said.

An added benefit to business owners, since they’re usually homeowners as well, is that Energy Trust, ODOE and their other community partners will also be able to point them to residential energy-saving programs and incentives.

“There are so many benefits to energy conservation, but the bottom line is that programs and resources like this help residential and business customers reduce their utility bills,” Rideout said.

“This helps industry and strengthens us as a state,” she said. “That’s pretty powerful.”