Massachusetts Agricultural Energy Grant Program

As of 2023, this program has been consolidated into the Massachusetts Climate Smart Agriculture Program.

The Agricultural Energy Grant Program (ENER) is a competitive grant program that funds agricultural energy projects in an effort to improve energy efficiency and the adoption of alternative energy by Massachusetts farms. The goal of the program is that farms can become more sustainable and the Commonwealth can maximize the environmental and economic benefits from these technologies.

Applicant must be an agricultural operation as defined by M.G.L. c. 128, Section1A that is principally and substantially engaged in the business of production agriculture or farming for commercial purposes and:

• To be eligible for participation in the Program, an Applicant must own, or be a Co-Responder with the owner of the agricultural operation, who has a legal interest in the land whether by deed or written agreement and approval to implement the project on the property, which must be in active agricultural use and managed as a commercial enterprise by the Responder for at least the three (3) previous years. This three (3) year management requirement may be waived if the operator has substantial direct management experience in farming;

• Are legally recognized entities within the Commonwealth and have the ability to enter a legally binding agreement with the Commonwealth;

• Awards are limited to one per agricultural operation using a unique tax identification number per round of funding;

• Priority will be given to applicants who are established in commercial agriculture and whose primary source of income is derived from the agricultural operation and that do not anticipate any change of ownership in the next five years;

• Have demonstrated the capacity to implement and administer projects and programs as defined in the responsive proposals to this RFR; and

• Additionally, eligible farm stands shall comply with M.G.L. c. 40A, Setion. 3 and demonstrate that the purpose of the farm stand shall be to sell agricultural products, a majority of which are produced by the applicant’s agricultural operation.

Award maximum — "Maximum funding per applicant is 80% of total project costs, up to $50,000." Early-Stage Farmers (1–3 years in operation) are capped at $10,000. No minimum award is stated.

Solar-specific caps — "Maximum funding for solar photovoltaics (PV) shall be $2,000/kW without battery storage; and $2,500/kW with battery storage."

Match — "Applicants are required to contribute a minimum of a 20% cash-match for the project category being applied for. In-kind services, donations, or other services, or other state grant funds are not eligible as matching funds."

Combined cap across components — CSAP is one combined application spanning several MDAR programs, and "the maximum total funding request per application is $150,000, regardless of the number of project areas submitted" ($30,000 for Early-Stage Farmers). Energy projects may draw on either this program or ACRE: "Energy projects will be funded under the amounts appropriated for the Agricultural Energy Program and/or the ACRE Program."

Source: FY2027 CSAP Request for Response, RFR File AGR-CSAP-FY27.

The Application is currently closed, but applications will be made through MA's unified Climate Smart Agriculture Program Portal.

Check back in early 2022 to learn how to apply.

• Apply through MA's unified Climate Smart Agriculture Program