Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS), the University of Minnesota Extension Service and USDA Rural Redevelopment are helping farmers and rural small businesses reduce costs with energy efficiency by taking control of their energy costs with renewable energy projects.

Redwood County farmers Mike and Shari Christensen are among program grant recipients. This spring, they received a $19,370 USDA REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) grant to install a 20 kW solar photovoltaic array on their farm.

The Christensens have three solar panels on their farm. Last fall, they added a 10kW solar array behind their farm house.

During summer months with more daylight hours, they are able to produce about 2,000 Kw hours of power a month.

“We considered wind (turbines) first, but feel we found the right federal and state and Xcel Energy (assistance) programs, rebates and rewards for solar projects. And solar power has no moving parts,” Mike Christensen said. He tracks how much power his panels produce with iPhone applications.

In addition, he said he produces solar power daily. “Even if the sun isn’t shining brightly when it’s cloudy, we are producing power when the sun is up,” Christensen said. “We’re big believers in solar (power). Lots of my neighbors are interested too. They often ask me about it, especially the tax deductions and credits solar projects have.”

Three years ago, the Christensens replaced about 100 high-pressure sodium lights with LED bulbs in each of their turkey barns. “The LED lights last about twice as long, and they don’t get hot like the old bulbs did,” Christensen said. “We also added light dimmers to simulate sunrise and sunset for the turkeys, a technique that is supposed to improve production.”

Local and federal funding is available to help Minnesota poultry farmers with on-farm lighting retrofits. Electric utility rebates are available. For more information, visit www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/turkeys

CERTs help farms and businesses apply for USDA REAP, which offers grants for 25 percent of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Those seeking $20,000 grants ($80,000 total project cost) can fill out a shorter application due Oct. 31. The next deadline for all projects is April 30, 2016.

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing may be used with REAP funding. With PACE, energy-saving measures pursued by commercial property owners receive project financing and are repaid as a separate item on their property tax assessment for a set period of time.

PACE eliminates upfront costs with low-cost, long-term financing. For more information, visit mncerts.org/GreatRenewables

For the eighth-straight year, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources will oversee nearly 4,000 square feet of primary exhibit space on home energy use in partnership with other state agencies, utility companies, non-profits and businesses in the Eco Experience building at the Minnesota State Fair.

In partnership with the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, Commerce will have a LIDAR geomapping display on a large screen showing actual solar production at Minnesota property sites, including how numbers compare from different roof applications. For more information, visit EcoExperience.org