Statewide Program can Help Snohomish County Farmers and Rural Business Owners Turn Their Renewable Energy Ideas into a Reality

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The news is out: more and more rural Washingtonians are considering renewable energy and energy efficiency options for their farms and small businesses. The reasons are crystal-clear: clean energy is good for the earth, and it’s good for business, too. And while cleaner forms of energy have been on the market for several years now, high costs have typically prohibited farmers and rural business owners from considering renewables as a reliable alternative to more traditional energy forms. However, that’s changing with a combination of local and federal incentives, as well as grant funding from programs like the USDA Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP).

To help people navigate these incentive programs, as well as to reduce their energy use and save their businesses money, Pierce Conservation District and Spark Northwest in cooperation with Snohomish Conservation District have developed a free state-wide assistance program for farmers and rural business owners. Services include education on local and federal incentives, grant writing assistance, and technical consultation.

“Energy costs are often higher in rural areas and the whole messaging of energy efficiency and self sustainability really resonates with farmers, as well as their customer base,” says Nicholas Cusick, Climate Resiliency Coordinator with the Pierce Conservation District. “Navigating the different options for financial assistance available for renewables can make the transition daunting. We can help smooth out the process making a transition more accessible,” says Carrie Brausieck, with Snohomish Conservation District.

The good news is that financial assistance programs like REAP make considering clean energy an easy choice. Eligible renewable energy systems include: wind, solar, renewable biomass (including anaerobic digesters), small hydro-electric, ocean, geothermal, or hydrogen derived from these renewable resources. Are you interested in renewable energy for your farm or rural small business and are wanting to apply for grant assistance? Please reach out to cbrausieck@snohomishcd.org for more information!