3CE is providing incentives to the Ag sector for the purpose of fuel switching heavy duty equipment and farm tools from fossil fuels to cleaner all-electric alternatives. The program will be implemented via a competitive grant process. Recipients of the award will receive up to $20,000 (up to 80% of the total project cost). Total available funding for 3CE’s Ag energy program is $400,000.
Why do this?
The agricultural sector accounts for 8% of total GHG emissions in the State of California. The 3CE service territory has a large Ag sector presence and a significant percentage of our GHG emissions are from Ag sector activities such as:
Diesel-powered irrigation pumps.
Tractors and forklifts
Light/heavy-duty vehicles
Coolers/Boilers
and more
Ag electrification benefits include; cleaner air for farm workers and for our Central Coast through local GHG reduction, more efficient technology requiring less maintenance, and possible cost savings.
Program Walk-through
To qualify, an ag customer must be an enrolled 3CE customer within our current service area. Funding will be distributed via a competitive grant process. Interested customers may apply for specific projects and will be eligible for up to 80% of the total project cost, not to exceed $20,000, to support electrification/fuel switching costs. Funding to be provided at 3CE’s discretion.
Grant funds will be made available through a competitive grant process, which will include analyzing GHG reductions and total project costs for each application. Other considerations will be made as well including the benefit to people working in proximity to the equipment.
3CE'S 2020 AG Electrification Grant Program has been a monumental success!
In 2020 our initial $160k Ag Electrification Grant Program was fully subscribed with eight local Ag applicant’s $20k electrification or “fuel-switching” projects to accelerate the adoption of new electric equipment. The success of this program led to our refunding of the program with an additional $400k for a total of $560k made available to our Central Coast Ag customers. Below are two recipient’s testimonials:
Anatum Winery received their electric forklift!
Wild Poppies received their electric RTV and olive harvesting rakes!
View the Ag Electrification Grant Program Press Release here