Local farms receive energy grants

For equipment ranging from piglets’ heating pads to photovoltaic systems, five Franklin County farms will share nearly $140,000 in state renewable energy and energy efficiency grants awarded Wednesday.

Recipients include Atlas Farm of Deerfield: $30,000 for a 65 kilowatt photovoltaic system; Foxbard Farm of Shelburne, $30,000 for a 27.35 kilowatt photovoltaic system; Horseshoe Farm of Warwick: $15,000 fro a 12.43 kilowatt pole-mounted photovoltaic system; Wilder Hill Gardens of Conway: $15,000 for a 5.89 kilowatt photovoltaic system; Hearthside Sugar House of Shelburne Falls: $3,909 for reverse osmosis and preheating equipment; and Singlebrook Farm of Shelburne, $1,500 for heat pads for piglets.

The agricultural energy grants were among 38 statewide to help farmers implement renewable energy systems and improve energy efficiency, for a total of totaling $908,259. The farms receiving funding from the state Agricultural Resources and Energy Resources departments are projected to save farmers over $200,000 a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 660 tons annually.