It was announced today that applications are being accepted for the Rural Energy for America Program, which is administered by USDA Rural Development. This program offers grants and/or loan guarantees for small businesses, ranchers and farmers who install renewable energy generating systems and energy efficiency improvements. The projects must be located in a rural area. […]
Energy audit program available through OSU
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There’s no question about it. Any form of agriculture, including the production of nursery stock, requires energy. And, energy costs money. Some may see that as a burden, which it is, but here’s a chance to see it as an opportunity. This spring, Oregon State University Energy Efficiency Center is offering rural energy audits, thanks […]
Blooming with innovation
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Blooming Nursery is turning to an inexpensive energy source – the sun – to help heat its propagation greenhouses in the winter. The Cornelius, Ore.-based grower, known for its perennials, has contracted with Ra Energy, which will install a solar energy system with 350 collection units. The system will heat some 300,000 gallons of water […]
It’s official – Climate Friendly Nurseries Project launched
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The Oregon Association of Nurseries and the Oregon Environmental Council have created a partnership known as the Climate Friendly Nurseries Project, the two organizations announced Thursday morning at the 2009 Farwest Show in Portland, Ore. Over the next three years, the partners will work together to help nurseries to reduce energy use and emissions of […]
Bailout bill contains provisions that can help nurseries
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When Congress passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, better known as the bailout package, it provided $700 billion in relief to the troubled financial industry. However, it also included many provisions that could benefit the nursery and greenhouse industry directly through tax incentives and other tax deductions. Steve Shropshire of the law firm […]
REAPing the rewards of green energy
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Oregon growers such as Northwoods Nursery (Molalla, Ore.), Harts Nursery (Jefferson, Ore.) and McKenzie Valley Bamboo Nursery (Springfield, Ore.) have already made the commitment to install renewable energy and energy efficiency projects (such as this efficient in-ground heating system) with help from the USDA Rural Energy for America (REAP) grant program. If you would like […]
Two Oregon nurseries ‘REAP’ benefits of energy efficiency
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Two OAN-member nurseries were among 18 Oregon recipients who were awarded Section 9006 energy grants by USDA Rural Development, the agency announced last week. Northwoods Nursery of Molalla received a $30,490 grant to help make energy efficiency greenhouse improvements, while McKenzie Valley Bamboo of Springfield was granted $10,000 towards a small solar project. The grants, […]
Rural wind power workshops coming up
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The phrase “free as the wind” is sounding more and more tempting to energy users beset by the ever-rising cost of oil, natural gas and other energy sources. And although wind power isn’t free, either, it is a key part of Oregon’s push for renewable energy. It may also offer an opportunity for rural landowners. […]