Download a quick guide to MFEP Audits and Incentives
• The Benefits of Energy Audits
• Public Utility Audits
• MFEP Custom Audits
• NRCS Ag-EMP Audits
• Renewable Energy Assessments
Why energy audits?
Energy audits are useful planning tools, and should be the first step for farmers interested in energy efficiency or renewable energy projects. They are also required for several key funding opportunities.
Audits provide a snapshot of current farm energy use and costs, and set out recommendations for saving energy. They give you an opportunity to compare retrofit options by illustrating which upgrades will save the most energy, which have the quickest payback, and which may be eligible for financial incentives. This is helpful as you prioritize projects and make decisions about equipment purchases.
What do audits cover?
Audit calculations are based on farm records and existing conditions at the time of the analysis, and don’t typically address future scenarios. As you make changes to your farm operations, you may need to request an updated audit to ensure accurate recommendations. Energy use is dependent on many variables; therefore, changing any one feature can affect other parts of the system and effect overall recommendations.
Have a new business strategy in the works? For example, shifting from growing salad greens to tomatoes in your greenhouse? Or increasing the number of taps in your sugarbush? You may need to work with your auditor to include projections of energy use and energy-saving options for this new scenario.
Common types of energy audits
Free Public Utility Audits – Public utility companies will perform no-cost energy audits of businesses, including farms. These audits are available for assessing electricity or natural gas use, typically for lighting, refrigeration, heating systems, and other custom measures. You must participate in an audit conducted by the public utility to be eligible for their financial incentives (which can cover from 50-70% of retrofit costs).
If you are a municipal power customer, call your power company about audits or incentives. They may offer no-cost or discounted audits or some prescriptive financial incentives.
Investor-owned Utility Contact Information
| Cape Light Compact | Nicole Price | Superior Court House, POB 427, Barnstable MA 02630 | nprice@capelightcompact.org | 508.375.6886 |
| Columbia Gas of Massachusetts | Terry Avedisan | Commerical and Industrial Division 300 Friberg Parkway, Westborough MA 01581 | tavedisian@nisource.com | 508.836.7388 |
| Berkshire Gas | Robert Gyurjan | 115 Cheshire Rd., Pittsfield, MA 01581 | rgyurjan@berkshiregas.com | 413.445.0345 |
| National Grid | Richard Drury | RCS Energy Services, Leverett, MA | richardadrury@gmail.com | 413.367.0329 |
| NSTAR Electric & Gas | Augustine Pimentel (electric audits) |
One NSTAR Way, SW 360, Westwood MA 02090 | augustine.pimentel@nstar.com | 781.441.8705 or 339.987.7568 |
| Paul Degnan (gas audits) |
One NSTAR Way, SW 360, Westwood MA 02090 | paul.degnan@nstar.com | 781.441.8997 | |
| Fitchburg Gas & Electric/UNITIL | Ed Mailloux | 6 Liberty Lane W., Hampton NH 03842 | mailloux@unitil.com | 603.773.6541 |
| Western MA Electric Co (WMECO) | Kim Kiernan (lighting or refrigeration) |
Small Business Program 300 Cadwell Drive, Springfield MA 01104 |
kiernk@nu.com | 413.787.9275 |
| Lynn DiTullio | “Custom” Commercial Program 300 Cadwell Drive, Springfield MA 01104 |
lynn.ditullio@nu.com | 413.787.9272 |
MFEP Custom Audits – The Mass Farm Energy Program (MFEP) provides customized farm energy audits to help farms assess energy-saving and renewable energy options. Examples of recommended measures can be found in our Massachusetts Farm Energy Best Management Practices guides.
MFEP pays for 75% of the cost of the audit and the applicant farmer covers the remaining 25% prior to receiving the audit. In order to manage costs, audits will be targeted to address specific concerns and measures identified in the application process that have not been adequately addressed by other audit programs. Estimates for energy audits & assessments will be provided in advance of signing audit contracts. If you are a municipal power customer, MFEP audits can be a cost effective way to complete an audit.
To apply for an MFEP audit, gather your annual energy use information, andsubmit a request or call us at 413.475.3349
Remember – we offer financial incentives for farmers who implement audit recommendations!
NRCS AgEMP Audit – The Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP) is a type of audit administered through the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service. These audits evaluate fuel use and energy savings potential comprehensively across the entire farm. AgEMPs are required to apply to NRCS for EQIP funding related to energy projects (see the Funding Page for more details).
AgEMPs are commonly awarded by NRCS during prescribed ranking periods, which vary from year to year. NRCS awards payments for a majority cost-share of these audits, which typically run from $800-$2500. To request an Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEmp), contact your local NRCS field office.
Renewable Energy Assessments
It is important to focus on energy conservation and efficiency prior to considering renewable energy. By reducing your farm’s energy demand, you can design a smaller renewable energy system to offset your energy needs, which will reduce up-front costs and make renewable energy more feasible.
After you have completed practical energy efficiency upgrades, you may be interested in replacing some of your electricity and fossil fuel use with renewable energy. Read theFarm Energy Best Management Practices for Renewable Energy for an overview of different solar, wind, and biomass technologies.
After identifying a suitable type of system for your farm, request a renewable energy assessment, which will determine feasibility of a specific technology at your site, in addition to installation cost and financial projections.
Contact an installer to schedule a renewable energy assessment! Identify an installer you would like to work with and ask them to perform an assessment and put together a proposal for you. Ask for recommendations from farmers who have installed systems, or request a list from MFEP of installers who have worked with farms in Massachusetts. There are a number of competitive companies to choose from. Like with any investment – get the details and shop around to find the proposal that works well for you.
MFEP Renewable Energy Assessments
MFEP may pay up to 75% of the cost of an assessment or consultation for renewable energy system information that is not readily accessible through installers, on a discretionary basis. The cost of assessments can vary widely, but will be determined by MFEP prior to contract finalization.
Although any tested renewable energy technology will be considered by the program for eligibility, the following are considered high priority: solar thermal, biomass for solid fuels, anaerobic waste digesters, wind, photovoltaics, geothermal, and hydro.