Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
Farmer Incentives to Go Green in 2010

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 18, 2010) – The Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy (GOAP) today announced the availability of applications for the 2010 ARRA On-farm Energy Efficiency & Production Incentives Program.    More than $600,000 is available through this program for 2010.  Applications are due to GOAP postmarked no later than March 26, 2010.

“During the State of the Commonwealth, I noted that farms have long been a cornerstone of Kentucky’s economy, and they will have an important place in our future,” said Gov. Steve Beshear. “This on-farm energy incentive program is just one of many opportunities for Kentucky’s farmers to participate in agri-energy projects and help move Kentucky to becoming the Energy Capital of the nation.”

Energy bonus incentives are made possible through the Renewable Energy Partnership between the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy (GOAP) and the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Department for Energy Development and Independence. Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“Over the last several years, reducing energy usage and developing alternative sources of energy have become critical issues for Kentucky agriculture,” stated Roger Thomas, executive director of GOAP.  “The on-farm energy incentive program will provide Kentucky’s farmers with the opportunity to make changes to their operations that will improve their profit and reduce agriculture’s impact on energy consumption.”

The energy stimulus incentive program will provide 25 percent reimbursement of the actual cost of a federally qualified energy saving item, up to $10,000.  Permissible items include, but are not limited to, energy audits, energy efficient farm building components, on-farm energy upgrades and on-farm energy efficiency training.  Only expenditures made after Oct. 15, 2009 will be eligible for reimbursement.

All applications received from across the Commonwealth will be reviewed and scored by a committee comprised of representatives from GOAP, the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, the UK College of Agriculture and a Rural Electric Cooperative.  A representative from USDA Rural Development and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet will each serve on the committee in an ex-officio capacity.

All applications meeting the minimum requirements of eligibility will be considered for funding.  If the total eligible applications exceed the available funds, the committee will rank the applications using the scoring criteria.  Applicants will be notified of their approval.

The 2010 ARRA On-farm Energy Efficiency and Production Incentives Program is designed to help achieve the goals of Gov. Steve Beshear’s Intelligent Energy Choices for Kentucky’s Future:  Kentucky’s 7-Point Energy Strategy, and will be part of the effort to meet 18 percent of Kentucky’s energy needs from efficiency improvements by 2025.

For questions about the application process for the ARRA On-farm Energy Incentives Program, please contact Bryan Thomas, special projects coordinator, at (502) 564-4627 or bryan.thomas@ky.gov.  The application is also available online at agpolicy.ky.gov.

For more information about stimulus programs in Kentucky, please visit www.kentuckyatwork.ky.gov.  For national information on recovery act funding, please visit www.recovery.gov.  

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Gov. Steve  Beshear and the General Assembly continue to make great strides toward lessening Kentucky’s dependence on tobacco production while revitalizing the farm economy by investing 50 percent of Kentucky's Master Settlement Agreement into the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.