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Agricultural Businesses Energy Incentive Program

Agricultural Businesses Energy Incentive Program

EGLE offers matching grants to accelerate the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy on farms and other agriculture-related entities through the Agricultural Businesses Energy Incentive Program. This grant opportunity will support increased resilience and stability of agricultural entities and businesses in Michigan through energy efficiency, renewable energy, electrification, and other innovative projects.

Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposal and any questions with the program contact prior to submittal.  Energy efficiency and sustainability technical assistance and assessments are encouraged to be conducted prior to or incorporated into the project that is being proposed.

Eligibility Requirements

Any agriculture, or related, entity (farm, crop processing, food processing, etc.) with less than 500 employees worldwide and physically located in Michigan is eligible to apply.

Projects must address one or more program objectives, and one or more program priorities listed under Section I-B of the Request for Proposals.

Funding Amount

The maximum individual grant award amount is $50,000. All grants require a minimum 100 percent match. EGLE reserves the right to issue awards/amounts reflecting program priorities. Expenditures incurred prior to the receipt of the signed and executed grant agreement or incurred after the project end date are ineligible.

Program Priorities

  • Entities with significantly less than 500 employees worldwide. 
  • Innovative integration of renewables with agricultural activities like pumped water storage, agrivoltaics, or thermal battery. 
  • Businesses that provide goods or services to the agriculture industry.
  • Utilizing state, federal, and utility energy assistance programs. 
  • Activities with significant environmental and economic benefits. 
  • High value success stories of interest to many other agricultural businesses in Michigan. 

Awardee Obligations

  • Monthly progress report emailed to program manager.
  • Report project impacts, addressing potential energy and cost savings.
  • Provide documentation of project expenditures (i.e. invoices and proof of payments).
  • Submit payment request within 30 days of completing the project / activity.
  • Onsite visit with EGLE staff following project completion.
  • One-year follow-up survey on continued impacts of implemented project/activity.  

Application Documents

Contact us

Tim Cameron, CameronT3@Michigan.gov, 517-898-1853

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I use funding for a project that is already start (or already finished)?

    No. In order for expenses to be reimbursed from grant funds, an EGLE grant agreement must be executed (signed) first. 

  • Can I use other funding sources for the required match?

    Other sources of funding (like utility rebates) are generally fine with a major exception: federal funds (such as USDA REAP) cannot be used as match. Agriculture Businesses Energy Incentive Program grant funding comes from a federal source (US Department of Energy), and we are not allowed to use other federal funds as the match. 

  • Would cannabis facilities be able to apply?

    No. This is due to restrictions on how federal funding is used.  Cannabis is illegal at the federal level. 

  • Would non-profits or municipalities be able to apply?

    Non-profits that operate as on the types of eligible entities listed in Section 1-D of the RFP are eligible to apply. These grants are not designed for municipalities.