Describe the Issue or Situation.

The USDA Rural Development Office in Kentucky and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board made cost-share funds available in 2024 for renewable energy generation projects on farms and small rural businesses. Both programs required an energy assessment as part of the cost-share application. UK Cooperative Extension Service engineers from the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department were asked to provide technical assistance in the form of energy assessments for potential program applicants.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).

Producers used the energy assessments to apply for cost-share funds to install solar power generation panels on their farms. Approximately half of the project cost was supported by cost-share funds with growers contributing the remaining amount. This project has been a collaborative effort with USDA Rural Development (KY Office), KY Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy, and private, third-party grant writers.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.

This team provided energy assessments and technical reports to install seven solar PV systems on farms in Breckinridge, Hancock (4), Davies, and Shelby counties that applied for cost-share funds from one or both available programs.

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.

The total project costs for these farms amounted to $393,768 and the total amount in grants received was $69,010 ($9,859 per farm). Additionally, the total annual value of energy replaced by other with other sources with current prices for electricity was $25,306 per year ($3,615 per farm). The estimated average simple payback period for all projects was about 7 years after applying cost-share assistance that was received by the farmers.