Event Description

Farmers can increase the productivity and efficiency of their farming practices and promote sustainability by transitioning from fossil fuels to the use of electric powered equipment such as water pumps, tractors, utility vehicles, and irrigation systems. Attend this class to explore the regulatory and business rationale for beneficial farm electrification with a deep dive into specific electrification technologies and how to evaluate their energy savings, cost savings, payback, and decarbonization potential. Challenges and opportunities for electrification will be explored, including the opportunity to incorporate renewable energy to reduce operational costs and demands on the grid. PG&E representatives will discuss the dynamics of agricultural rates such as time-of-use and best rate options available to agricultural customers and how to select the best option as well as how to request new service or service upgrades to accommodate increased electrical loads. We will also include a discussion of available incentives and funding sources that can help make beneficial farm electrification more affordable. This class will present a wealth of information to help farm owners/operators and their advisors evaluate the potential for electrification of their farming operations.

The objective of this course is that at the conclusion, participants will be able to:

• Describe beneficial farm electrification and where to begin
• Explain the challenges and opportunities of beneficial farm electrification, particularly for small farming operations
• Give examples of technologies that can be adopted for beneficial farm electrification
• Discuss the role of renewable energy and storage for offsetting both costs and demands on the grid
• Select the right rate plan for their farming operation
• Access PG&E resources for electrical upgrades and new service
• Access incentives and funding sources that support beneficial farm electrification

Image: Central Coast Commnity Energy