Turkey farm receives grant for energy-efficient updates through Hoosier Energy

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Posted on Dec 15 2024 in A Co-op Perspective, Bartholomew County REMC, Clark County REMC, Daviess-Martin County REMC, Decatur County REMC, Dubois REC, Harrison REMC, Henry County REMC, Jackson County REMC, Orange County REMC, Southeastern Indiana REMC, Southern Indiana Power, WIN Energy REMC
Fuh's turkey barn
Bryan Fuhs’ turkey barns have new conduit and LED lighting as part of an energy-efficiency project through Hoosier Energy and the USDA REAP TAG program.

Bryan Fuhs had his doubts, but it never hurts to try.

So, the Montgomery, Indiana, turkey farmer applied for the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) through Hoosier Energy anyway.

“I thought, ‘Well, it’s worth looking into,’” Fuhs said. “I needed to make energy-efficient updates anyway, so if the program’s something I can take advantage of, I might as well try it…I didn’t think we would get approved, but here we are.”

Located in Daviess-Martin County REMC territory, Fuhs qualified based on being in an area identified by the USDA as a “Distressed or Disadvantaged Community,” which meant there was no dollar limit on the request. The total project cost must be less than $40,000 outside of such communities.

His turkey farm now has new LED lights in the brooder barn and the two grow-out barns with a dimmer system to help optimize energy usage. All the wiring is now in conduit for the length of the barns, while upgraded control panels with six sensors are in each barn to monitor temperatures. The ventilation system is also automated to switch as necessary when it gets too cool or too warm.

He will eventually add solid sidewall and insulation in the attic of the brooder barn to further improve energy efficiency.

“Agriculture and small businesses are essential to our economy here in southern Indiana, and by providing technical assistance at no expense to ag producers, like Bryan Fuhs, we are furthering our adding to our efforts as local community-focused cooperatives,” Hoosier Energy Manager of Member Solutions Blake Kleaving said. “If someone owns a farm or small business and is searching for ways to improve energy efficiency, we would be excited to assist through this REAP TAG program.”

Subsidized by a USDA grant awarded to Hoosier Energy and working in partnership with GDS Associates, this program provides assistance to small businesses and ag producers to determine eligibility for qualifying REAP projects at no cost to the applicant. Although not based on utility providers, Hoosier Energy is focusing application efforts in member-system territories.

Fuhs, whose family has raised turkeys since 1987 and who has been running the farm himself since 2015, is confident the results will be worthwhile. Estimated energy savings on the project are 8,000 kilowatt hours and 5,500 therms since he’s on natural gas.

“I think people don’t realize what the benefits of the program are,” he said. “I strongly recommend anybody to try and apply.”

To learn more about the program, contact Kleaving at bkleaving@hepn.com.