Sen. Burke Encourages GEFA Incentive for Energy Efficient Farmers

ATLANTA (November 25, 2013) – Sen. Dean Burke (R-Bainbridge) is encouraging constituents to look into information regarding the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority’s (GEFA) second offering of the Georgia Agricultural Irrigation Motor (AIM) program.

“This is an exceptional program for all farmers seeking both fiscal and environmental rewards,” said Sen. Burke.  “By GEFA offering this program, our state continues to protect two of our biggest assets, our natural resources and agriculture industry; I applaud these efforts and hope each one of you will consider this rebate.”

The Georgia AIM program will provide farmers with a rebate to replace inefficient diesel irrigation engines with energy-efficient electric irrigation motors.  The rebates will cover 25 percent of eligible project costs with a $10,000 maximum rebate available.

“GEFA is excited to offer a program that helps farmers save money and become more energy efficient,” said GEFA Executive Director Kevin Clark. “We also hope that the program increases awareness of energy-efficiency measures the agriculture industry can adopt and promote.”

The application period for the program opens online at www.gefa.org on Wednesday, December 4, 2013, at 8:00 a.m. Available funding is limited and rebates will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The application period will close Saturday, February 15, 2014, at 5:00 p.m.

The first round of the program awarded 34 farmers throughout the state with rebates totaling $154,309. The new installations are projected to save 30,167 MMBtus of energy and reduce annual diesel fuel consumption by 217,029 gallons.

 

RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
November 25, 2013

For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Director
Emily Williams, Communications Associate
emily.williams@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028