AGRICULTURE ENERGY INCENTIVE PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD

$75 million for peak load reduction projects

SACRAMENTO, June 21, 2001-The California Energy Commission is offering financial incentives to the agriculture industry to reduce electricity use during summer peak hours.

The total package available to water agencies and agriculture interests is $75 million. Food and fiber producers, dairy farms, animal production facilities, food processors, greenhouse operators, cold storage operations and other agriculture-related energy users may apply.

The following projects are available for funds:

· The purchase and installation of high-efficiency electrical agricultural equipment or any facility installed to achieve peak period electricity reduction. Eligible projects include: refrigeration and other cold storage equipment, pumps and premium motors, and automated control systems. Projects installed on or after January 1, 2001 can quality for funding.
· The testing of agricultural water pumps and retrofitting or replacing pump and premium efficiency motors to increase efficiency.
· The purchase and installation of advanced metering and telemetry equipment for agricultural and water pumping customers to improve load management and use demand responsiveness techniques. This includes irrigation scheduling systems.
· Offsetting the costs of retrofitting existing natural gas powered equipment to burn alternative fuels, including but not limited to in-state produced “non-spec” or “off-spec” natural gas.

Eligible projects must demonstrate that electricity load will be shifted or reduced between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays, for the months of June through September.

Interested agricultural interests may apply via the Fresno State Center for Irrigation Technology. The toll free phone number is (866) 297-3029. The fax number is (559) 278-6033. Email: pcanessa@csufresno.edu

Water agencies with agricultural customers may apply via the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Training and Research Center. The phone number is (805) 756-2434. The fax number is (805) 756-2433.
Email: sgartner@calpoly.edu

Application forms may be downloaded at www.energy.ca.gov/ag

-30-

FLEX YOUR POWER. To meet California’s energy challenge, CDFA and the California Energy Commission urge businesses and consumers to conserve. For a list of simple ways that you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our Web site @www.cdfa.ca.gov.