Rural or Agricultural

Resource Source and Description Audience Topic Type Additional Tags File
Western NC Energy Cost-Share Assistance Program (Energy CAP)

Energy CAP provides opportunities for renewable energy production and improved energy efficiency for WNC farms and small businesses through free grant application assistance, site assessments, consultations and energy audits.

Mountain Valleys RC&D
Service
Small Wind Guidebook

A guide for homeowners, small businesses and farms to decide if wind energy will work for them

Department of Energy: WINDExchange
Guide or Toolkit
Small Community Wind Guidebook

A guide for communities, nonprofits, businesses, farms, municipal utilities and electric cooperatives to decide whether small community wind projects are right for them

Department of Energy: WINDExchange
Guide or Toolkit
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

REAP provides renewable energy and energy efficiency loans and grants to agricultural producers with at least 50% of gross income coming from agricultural operations, and small businesses in eligible rural areas.

USDA
General
Planning a Microhydropower System

A step-by-step guide to planning a microhydropower system

Department of Energy
Guide or Toolkit
NCSEA — "North Carolina Solar and Agriculture"

This 2017 report describes the relationship between solar and agriculture in North Carolina, including up-to-date information on the total amount of land used, economic and environmental impacts, and projections for solar land use through 2030.

Aldina, R., Parker, D., Seo, B., Masatsugu, L., Childress, S., & Odera, M. (2017). North Carolina Solar and Agriculture.
Report
National Agricultural Library — Energy Resources

List of resources exploring types of renewable energy, energy policy, energy funding and energy efficiency for sustainable agriculture practices

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Report
Factsheet
Policy or Regulation
Guide or Toolkit
Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS)

MACRS is a U.S. tax policy allowing businesses to recover investments in certain renewable energy technology systems through depreciation deductions.

Department of Energy
Policy or Regulation
Microhydro Factsheet

Factsheet explaining microhydropower technology, site assessments, informational resources and western North Carolina installers

WNC Renewable Energy Initiative
Factsheet
Guide or Toolkit
Microhydro Equipment & Design

This article from issue #181 of Home Power Magazine covers the process of installing a microhydropower system, from the intake to power electronics.

Hugh Piggott, Home Power Magazine
Guide or Toolkit
PDF icon Download (3.43 MB)
Home Energy DIY Guides

Explore energy efficiency factsheets (many with Spanish translations), designed to help residents improve the comfort of their homes as well as reduce energy costs.

Dr. Sarah Kirby, NC State Extension
Guide or Toolkit
eXtension Farm Energy

The eXtension Farm Energy website provides factsheets, research summaries, case studies, decision tools, worksheets, and many other resources. Farm Energy covers a range of practices, including conserving energy, growing and producing biofuels, evaluating feedstocks, calculating farm wind and solar potential, and the sustainable use and production of farm energy.

U.S. Cooperative Extension System
Report
Factsheet
Guide or Toolkit
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources for Rural K-12 School Energy Managers and Educators

This 8-page guide offers tips for implementing energy efficiency measures in K-12 school districts and includes numerous case studies and resources for benchmarking, implementation, financing and behavior change programs.

U.S. Department of Energy, Better Buildings
Factsheet
Guide or Toolkit
PDF icon Download (557.54 KB)
Consumer Guides to Wind

Guides for utility-scale, community, and residential wind energy project development

Department of Energy: WINDExchange
Report
Guide or Toolkit
Co-Digestion Economic Analysis Tool

The Co-EAT tool is intended to provide an initial economic feasibility assessment for co-diegestion of organic wastes, to compare the relative merits of three uses of biogas and provide a clear cost comparison of the economic implications of co-digestion.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Tool or Calculator
ACEEE's Fourth National Review of Exemplary Energy Efficiency Programs

ACEEE's review of 53 selected energy efficiency models worthy of emulation in 14 categories includes a two-page profile of each program.

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Report