Clemson to lead new energy-efficiency project

FLORENCE, SC — South Carolina farmers can slash energy costs and increase profitability through federal funding announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Clemson University Extension received $1.1 million in federal funding to provide outreach and technical assistance needed to help South Carolina farmers with animal and plant production buildings gain access to assistance funds to adopt energy-efficient technologies and improve profitability. Extension will collaborate on the project with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Duke Energy and USDA Rural Development. With contributions from collaborative partners, funding is expected to reach $4.5 million, according to an announcement made at the S.C. AgriBiz & Farm Expo in Florence.

“Rising energy costs are severely eroding profitability on all kinds of farms. In particular, cost of electricity and LP gas have more than doubled since 2000, resulting in sharp increases in energy costs for farms that produce poultry, swine, dairy and plants in greenhouses,” said Clemson professor and Extension agricultural engineer John Chastain, who will lead the program and work with Clemson Extension agent Bryan Smith. “Increases in farm income on the order of $10,000 to $25,000 per year are not uncommon following upgrades in energy-efficient ventilation, lighting, heating equipment and building insulation.”

[youtube url=”http://youtu.be/AqfEkQbpnPo”]

The team will provide education on energy conservation technologies for animal and horticultural producers; offer on-farm evaluation of energy-saving opportunities; design retrofit or new systems that meet functional and efficiency requirements; collect vendor bids and perform cost-benefit analyses; provide assistance in applying for financial assistance from government and utility programs; and certify that the specified equipment or technology has been implemented correctly according to the requirements of the source of financial assistance.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the recipients of more than $370 million in federal funding as part of the new Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) authorized by the Farm Bill. The South Carolina project was one of 115 chosen among 600 applicants for funding under the program.

Photo: Clemson professor and Extension agricultural engineer John Chastain talks about the benefits of implementing energy efficient technology at South Carolina farms.
Image Credit: Clemson University

RCPP’s historic focus on public-private partnership enables private companies, local communities and other non-government partners a way to invest in efforts to keep land resilient and water clean, and to promote tremendous economic growth in agriculture, construction, tourism and outdoor recreation, and other industries.

“Partners are seeing the value of conservation and investing in their future,” Vilsack said. “These partnerships are forging a new path for getting conservation on the ground and are providing opportunities for communities to have a voice and ownership in protecting and improving our natural resources. The Regional Conservation Partnership Program ushers in a new era of conservation, and we’re excited about the down-the-road benefits from this new Farm Bill program.”