Farm Renewable and Efficiency Development (FRED) Program

Florida’s 47,500 farms produce nearly 300 different commodities on more than 9 million acres of land and employ 2 million people, contributing over $104 billion to the state’s economy each year. Energy expenditures account for 6.5 percent of Florida farms’ operating expenses, and nearly $375 million annually. This project will establish the Farm Renewable and Efficiency Demonstration program, which will create Mobile Energy Labs (MELs) that conduct on-site evaluations of the potential for Energy efficiency and renewable Energy upgrades on individual farms. After participating in an evaluation, farmers will be eligible for grants for the implementation of MEL recommendations. Emphasis will be placed on conducting outreach and technical assistance with historically underserved producers. Finally, a study will be completed on the effectiveness of the program, and the future Energy needs of agricultural producers in Florida. Reduction of Energy usage will result in not only monetary savings for farmers, but significant environmental benefits.