ZOOM WORKSHOPS - "Geothermal + Solar + Battery Backup System" - June 9th, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. EST - RI Farm Energy Program
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Newsletter June of 2021
ZOOM WORKSHOPS
—— “Geothermal + Solar + Battery Backup System” ——
June 9th, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. EST
Having you been thinking about solar or geothermal for your farm? Or maybe a battery back-up system for
your existing renewable energy system? This session will feature Verde Vineyard’s Solar/Geothermal System
and the Uninterruptable Solar PV Retrofit (Battery Backup) System.
Verde Vineyards installed geothermal heat pumps and a ground mount 10.56kW Solar PV system capable of
making enough power for the farm and winery to offset all usage with zero carbon footprint A battery backup
system (uninterruptible solar PV retrofit) keeps the system running even when the power goes out.
Have your questions ready for owner Jim Verde and installer Robert Tyce of Hillview Environmental, LLC!
—— “Renewable Energy for Farms and Rural Small Businesses” ——
June 16th, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. EST
RI RC&D is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a USDA Rural Development Renewable Energy
Development Assistance (REDA) Grant which will provide evaluations for renewable energy projects to eligible
Ag Producers and/or Rural Small Businesses in Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Renewable Energy Development Assistance Project is a partnership between RI RC&D and
EnSave, the recognized leader in ag energy efficiency and renewable energy analysis, and will provide
technical assistance to help farms and rural small businesses determine whether renewable energy is a good
choice for their operation. Program participants will receive a NO COST renewable energy site assessment,
which will identify which renewable energy systems are appropriate to their sites and evaluate the financial and
technical feasibility of implementation of those systems for their farm or rural small business.
—— “Climate Battery Systems for Greenhouse Operations” ——
June 23, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. EST
Michael Thompson of Eco Systems Design, LLC, will explain the “what and how” of a climate battery system
for greenhouse operations. Many questions about climate battery systems can be answered by visiting Eco
Systems Design’s FAQ page, but be sure to join us for this session to get all your questions answered!
To register for any or all of these Zoom Workshops
and get your Zoom invitation, please email:
info@rifarmenergy.org
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Rhode Island Farm Energy Program
Newsletter June 2021
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND INCENTIVES 2021
Rural Energy for America Program Energy Audit & Renewable Energy
Development Assistance Grants in Rhode Island (REDA) program assists rural
small businesses and agricultural producers by conducting and promoting energy audits
and providing Renewable Energy Development Assistance (REDA). For more
information see How REDA Works.
The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
Renewable Energy Fund (REF) funds renewable energy projects.
For more information, please visit www.commerceri.com
The Rhode Island Agricultural Energy Program (RIAgEP) is a competitive grant
program for the implementation of agricultural projects that improve energy efficiency
and facilitate renewable energy.
For more information, please visit www.rifarmenergy.org
Farm Energy Efficiency Program - The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources in
collaboration with National Grid offers FREE energy efficiency audits for farms.
Incentives and rebates are available for many energy efficient measures.
For more information visit: www.energy.ri.gov/efficiency/farmenergy
Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP) is a Conservation Activity Plan
personalized to ensure coverage of each farm’s main energy uses. An AgEMP is an
analysis of a farm’s foundation and management that provides recommendations on
how to reduce energy use.
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, 60 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI
401-828-1300 / 401-828-8232
C-PACE Rhode Island, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE), is an
innovative program that is helping commercial, industrial and multi-family property
owners access affordable, long-term financing for smart energy upgrades to their
buildings.
C-PACE: Find.
For more information, you can watch this video How C-Pace Works or visit the
website.
Rodale Organic Farm Funding
Get help expanding, improving, or starting your organic farm, PLUS Resources for New Farmers! If
you’re a young or beginning farmer looking for help finding and buying land, check out the National
Young Farmers Coalition and our local chapter Young Farmer Network of Southeastern New
England!
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Rhode Island Farm Energy Program
Newsletter June 2021
GREENHOUSES: ENERGY AND CONSERVATION
Greenhouse Energy Conservation Checklist
Increasing energy costs make conservation and efficient use of facilities an important part of today’s
greenhouse operation. New greenhouse designs, better glazing, improved heating and ventilating equipment
and new management systems should be included when upgrading or adding on. With typical annual energy
usage being 75% for heating, 15% for electricity and 10% for vehicles, efforts and resources should be put
where the greatest savings can be realized. Many improvements have a payback of less than two years.
Things a Greenhouse Grower Can Do to Improve Energy Efficiency
Greenhouse growers are under pressure these days to lower operating costs in order to stay competitive
in today's dynamic market as they work to produce high quality, low cost crops. Apart from labor, energy
is probably the top operating cost for most growers. Therefore, one of the best ways to help reduce
costs is to improve the energy efficiency...
These Energy Tools and Renewable Energy Tools from the USDA, and the Energy Conservation Tools
from the University of Wisconsin are designed to help farmers and ranchers identify ways to reduce their
energy costs. The modules determine if energy conservation equipment is being used and estimates the
current energy usage. The tools will calculate the estimated energy and cost savings for the use of high
efficiency equipment and energy conserving practices. The results generated by these tools are estimates
based on models and help to determine which equipment or practices are worth pursuing to reduce energy
consumption.
Energy Conservation Tools
This curriculum module on Greenhouse Energy Efficiency reviews the heat loss calculations needed to
determine the (maximum) capacity of a greenhouse heating system.
Greenhouse Self-Assessment Energy Conservation Tool
Greenhouse Design
This design and build The book “THE FOREST
company has come GARDEN GREENHOUSE: How
up with some very to design and manage an indoor
innovative designs permaculture oasis” by Jerome
and techniques for Osentowski provides a look at a
constructing superior greenhouses that provide a Climate Battery design that
versatile living space for both flora and people. By yields near-net-zero heating and
incorporating progressive building techniques, they cooling for greenhouses
create highly efficient and healthy greenhouses.
.
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Rhode Island Farm Energy Program
Newsletter June 2021
Farmland Protection 101:
Tips, Advice, and Guidance for Saving the Land That Sustains Us
According to AFT's research, seniors aged 65 and older own more than 40% of the agricultural land in the US,
suggesting an impending transfer of more than 370 million acres of farmland in the next two decades. At AFT,
we take this challenge seriously. It's AFT's Farm Legacy job to help landowners across the nation fully
understand their options for farm and ranch land transfer and protection. There are many options.
ACEP-ALE compensates landowners for choosing to permanently protect agricultural land from
development. In the process, it can also help you improve the viability of your farm, transfer agricultural land to
the next generation, and implement or expand sound farming practices.
Featured on the homepage of the Farmland Information Center website, their new resources walk
landowners through the ACEP-ALE application process. You'll find an explanation of ACEP-ALE and its
eligibility requirements to help determine if the program is a good fit for you, information on how to find a
farmland protection partner, and more!
Protecting farmland from development and transferring it to the next generation isn't about only one
organization, one program, or one policy. Join me next week to have your questions answered live and to learn
tips, advice, and guidance for saving the land that sustains us all.
Visit AFT’s Website or tune in to AFT’s YouTube Channel
for more videos that can help you improve and protect your farmland.
The Southern New England Heritage Forest (SNEHF)
The Last Green Valley is green by day and dark by night. We are a National
Heritage Corridor with a rich history in a surprisingly rural landscape. With 84%
forest and farm, we are the last swath of dark night sky in the coastal sprawl
between Boston and Washington DC. The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV)
works for you in the National Heritage Corridor. Together, we can care for it,
enjoy it and pass it on!
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Rhode Island Farm Energy Program
Newsletter June 2021
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Rhode Island Farm Energy Program
Newsletter June 2021
Woodland Management
If you need information to get started managing your woodlands, please give us a call.
We can help you find the information you need to begin and to continue managing your woodlands.
Please call 401-500-0399
MORE RESOURCES FOR WOODLOT OWNERS—
To receive the RIFCO quarterly newsletter
"The Forest Conservationist," visit our Contact page and submit a request online.
Or Join RIFCO and automatically receive an annual subscription as a RIFCO member.
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, Rhode Island
New England-New York Forestry Initiative
EQIP Forestry Initiative Information
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and
improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Applicants with forestland or in fields with 25 percent more woody
cover (aerial canopy cover) of tree species and who wish to install practices that will protect or enhance fish and
wildlife habitat should apply to this initiative.
The Overstory is the tri-annual publication of forest-centric news produced by The
Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment. “We're excited to share with
you the many ways our community is advancing the field of forestry in all its many
forms. This newsletter highlights some of the research, field work, activities, and
initiatives our students, faculty, alums, and centers & programs have been involved
in over the last months.”
American Forest Foundation Newsletter
Sign up and receive updates from the AFF and/or its signature programs: the American Tree Farm System
(ATFS) and My Land Plan
Purdue University Extension provides many free publications on Stewardship for Landowners.
Go to this link FREE downloadable publications and type “woodland” in the search box to get a list of all the
free publications.
6Rhode Island Farm Energy Program
Newsletter June 2021
Native Pollinator Bees
The European honeybee (Apis mellifera) originated in Europe--- though some
say northern Africa--- and the species was domesticated in Europe and then
brought to North America by farming settlers. And today, the Honey Bee has
become extremely important to North American agriculture.
It is undeniable that A. mellifera is responsible for much agricultural pollination in
North America; however, most people don’t realize that there also over 4,000
known species of native North American bees whose services are worth an
estimated $3 billion dollars per year to the US agricultural economy! How can
this be? Well, in spite of the Honey Bee hives that one sees in the spring on almost every large agricultural
property, it turns out that many agricultural plants are primarily pollinated by native bees that are uniquely
equipped with the tools and techniques required to pollinate specific plants.
Here are just a few of the “Specialist Bees” native to North America
The Squash Bee (Peponapis pruinosa)
Some native bees are generalists, but many are “specialists,” like this bee. “Specialists”
need a certain plant or family of plants to forage from. Usually, these bees' hatching
schedule coincides with when their host flowers are in bloom. The squash bee that forages
on squash, pumpkins, and zucchini,
The Blueberry Bee (Habropoda laboriosa)
These bees are masters of blueberry pollination, even better than honey bees. They’re
fast, efficient and perfectly adapted to pollinate both native blueberries and commercial
blueberry crops. They’re strong fliers, and do well in cool weather. These bees are our
most efficient blueberry pollinators, but like trumpet flower and azaleas, too.
Sunflower Bee (Diadasia enavata)
These bees belong to the family Megachilidae and are members of the Megachile genus.
They are non-aggressive and non-colonizing solitary bees that pollinate everything in the
sunflower family and various fruits and veggies. They are black with yellow stripes and
look similar to large leaf cutter bees.
Metallic Green Sweat Bees (Agapostemon)
Agapostemon angelicus are native to the Texas high plains. They specialized in being
pollinators for cotton and can serve as replacement for honey bees in pollination. These
bees are attracted to human sweat, and use the salt from the sweat for nutrition. They are
generally green or blue, especially the head and thorax.
While we’re focusing on the loss of honey bees here in North America, we need to be aware that our
native bees are in decline as well. This is an important fact that is often being overlooked by the media.
All bees— pollinators— are in peril. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, more than half of
North America’s 4,000 native bee species are in decline, with 1 in 4 species at risk of extinction. The
welfare of all human beings is inextricably linked to all of nature. The existence of our world requires a
vast diversity of wild animals and plants of all kinds to function sustainably. And for us humans,
pollinators are essential if we are to have enough food to feed our growing population.
7Rhode Island Farm Energy Program
Newsletter June 2021
The Northern Rhode Island Conservation District (NRICD) serves Providence County. The
Southern RI Conservation District (SRICD) serves Kent and Washington Counties, and the
Eastern RI Conservation District (ERICD) serves Newport and Bristol Counties.
The Newsletter of the Rhode Island Farm Energy Program
A project of the Rhode Island Resource & Development Area Council, Inc.
Disclaimer: Please Note
This newsletter's purpose is threefold. Our primary purpose is to keep our readers informed about
opportunities and resources which may be available to our readership. Our second purpose is to keep our
readership informed about news, events, products, opinions, and information which may directly affect our
readership, either adversely or beneficially. Our third purpose is to present our readers with information that
they may find enlightening or entertaining.
The opinions and political positions represented in the newsletter do not reflect the opinions or political
positions of either the Rhode Island Resource and Development Area Council, Inc., or the Rhode Island Farm
Energy Program; nor does either RIRC&D or RIFEP advocate or endorse any of the opinions, positions, or
products mentioned in the newsletter except where specifically stated.
CONTACT RIFEP
Jo-Anne Pacheco, Program Coordinator
Email: info@rifarmenergy.org
Telephone: 401-500-0399
Web Site: http://www.rifarmenergy.org
Paul Dolan, RI RC&D Area Director
Mailing Address:
RI Farm Energy Program
c/o RI RC&D
2283 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919
Web Site: http://rircd.org
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