Conservation Activity Plan Practice Code (128) (No.)

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Agricultural Energy Management Plan

Criteria

Conservation Activity Plan Practice Code (128) (No.)

I. Definition of an AgEMP

An Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP) is a baseline assessment for the agricultural enterprise of the energy consuming activities and components. The plan will document a year of on-farm energy consumption, and the strategy by which the producer can prioritize on-farm opportunities to increase efficiency of their energy utilization. The producer must be involved with inventory and evaluation of the current farm operation and the energy management planning process by identifying their goals and objectives.

II. Definition of Terms

Baseline Energy Consumption—The energy consumption for the previous 12 months, or another recent consecutive 12 month period typical to that farm enterprise. Where weather or other extreme events alter the typical energy use in the previous 12 months, alternate years may be used for the evaluation with a complete documentation and rationale for this in the final report. This typical 12-month energy consumption becomes the baseline for comparison of recommended energy efficiency improvements.

Component (as used in the ASABE Standard) —Individual parts of a major activity. For example, a lighting activity would include the following components: lamps, timers, and sensors.

Energy—For the purposes of these criteria, energy is the resource used to power equipment to do mechanical work such as heat, light, ventilation, irrigation or cooling.

Energy Resource—Source from which energy is obtained, including gasoline, diesel fuel, biofuel, propane, natural gas, electricity, solar, wind, wood, biomass, geothermal, etc.

Farm Enterprise—The production category or categories of a farm. For example, a farm may include a field crop enterprise and a swine enterprise. (See ASABE S612 Table 1, appended to this document)

Conservation activity plans are reviewed periodically and updated if needed. To obtain the current version of this criteria, contact your Natural Resources Conservation Service Texas State Office or visit the Field Office Technical Guide.

NRCS

August 2017

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· Dairy

· Swine

· Poultry

· Beef/veal

· Field Crops

· Fruit/Vegetables

· Irrigation

· Aquaculture

· Nursery/Greenhouse

NRCS

August 2017

128 - 1

Major Activity—A discrete activity associated with a farm enterprise that utilizes an energy resource or that controls energy resource use. For example, a poultry enterprise may include heating, ventilation; a dairy enterprise may include lighting (ASABE S612 Table 1).

Relevant Enterprise – For purposes of the AgEMP, relevant enterprises are those that account for 10% - 15% or more of the total annual baseline energy usage.

Certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) – A third-party that has applied and meets the proficiency criteria located on the TSP website at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/technical/tsp.

III. AgEMP-Criteria

A. General Criteria

· The AgEMP must be developed by a Technical Service Provider (TSP) certified through NRCS TechReg for the CAP- Agricultural Energy Management Plan (128) category.

· The AgEMP will meet the”Type 2 Audit” minimum criteria established in the ANSI/ASABE S612 (July2009) Performing On-farm Energy Audits standard.

· An onsite visit is required by the TSP or their qualified representative to meet with the landowner to inventory and evaluate the baseline conditions of the energy components of the farm enterprises.

· Enterprises to be audited will include all relevant farm enterprises and other enterprises requested by the producer.

· State specific requirements for NRCS contracting limits must be checked for applicability, such as, developing an AgEMP with a landowner having multiple farming operations that run independently but are under the same ownership.

B. Criteria for Specific Elements of an AgEMP

1. AgEMP Cover Page and Signature Page

The AgEMP must have a cover page providing the following:

a) Farm identification

(1) Farm name, owner name, street address, and county/state.

(2) Primary phone number of producer.

(3) All enterprises of the farm, with all distinct farm enterprises addressed and identified.

b) TSP identification

(1) Name, mail address, email, and primary phone number and TSP number.

(2) Staff involved in site visit, analysis, report writing.

(3) TSP Certification statement

A statement to the effect that the auditor possesses the technical expertise and experience to perform on-farm energy audits and that the report meets all the requirements of ASABE S612 (per §6.1) and NRCS CAP 128.

(4) Signature of the TSP and date of signature

c) Landowner concurrence

(1) Landowner acceptance statement

A statement to the effect that the Plan correctly lists the farm identifying information, addresses the farm enterprises under the Producer’s control, adequately represents the baseline conditions of the farm enterprise(s), adequately represents the Producer’s concerns and objectives, and that the Producer has received a final copy of the Plan.

The producer also acknowledges that the contract life of the signed AgEMP will be qualified by changes to their operation: “An AgEMP that is more than 1 year old should be reviewed to verify that it still reflects the energy components of the agricultural operation and management system. If components, operational or management changes are identified, the AgEMP must be reviewed and revised to reflect the new conditions”

(2) Signature of the landowner and date of signature

d) NRCS Approval section (left blank to be completed by NRCS).

2. Summary Report of Energy Practices

Present the findings of the AgEMP in the ‘Summary’ section using Tables 1 and 2 with the headings shown as follows. Tables 1 and 2 should include a separate line for each recommended measure/component within each major activity of the farm enterprise(s) audited.

Table 1. Summary of Energy Efficiency Improvements

Recommended
Measure / Estimated Annual Reduction in Energy Use / Estimated Costs, Savings, Payback, and Prioritization for Implementation
Electric Savings (kWh) / Natural Gas Savings (ccf)3 / Propane Savings (gal) / Other1 / Energy Savings (MMBTU) / Installed Cost [a], $ / Energy Cost Savings [b], $/yr. / Payback in Years
[a / b], yr. / Est. Life in Years2
Totals

1) Use the Other column to aggregate any miscellaneous sources of energy.

2) Estimated Life is expected useful life of the equipment recommended with standard O&M activities.

3) Unit of purchase

Table 2: Estimated Annual Reduction of Emissions. (Environmental benefits for each recommended measure.)

Environmental Benefits1
Recommended Measure / Energy Savings (MMBtu) / Greenhouse Gases2 / Air Pollutant Co-Benefits2
Estimated CO2 (lbs.) / Estimated N2O (lbs.) / Estimated CH4 (lbs.) / Estimated SO2 (lbs.) / Estimated NOx (lbs.)
Totals:

1) Environmental Benefits values may be calculate from http://cometfarm.nrel.colostate.edu/QuickEnergy

2) CO2 is a green-house gas; SO2 and NOx are ambient air contaminants

3. Background and Site Information

Provide a narrative in the AgEMP that includes:

a) Date that the AgEMP field visit was completed

b) Facility location(s).

c) Type, size, and overall management scheme of the operation. Include in the narrative a description of the farm enterprise(s), (e.g., poultry, dairy, field crop, etc.) along with production levels, and any unusual factors that affect energy use. Narrative should provide enough detail that all energy consuming systems/components are technically identifiable as to the processes employed to meet the farm enterprise production needs.

d) Include producer concerns and objectives for the farm enterprise(s). This is a description of why the producer wants an on-farm energy audit and their specific objectives.

e) An aerial map or equivalent plan view indicating the farm operation including all the structures relevant to the AgEMP, such as animal housing, shops, grain storage, processing facilities and locations of the headquarters and the fields that were evaluated in the farming operation. Identify on the site map where the recommended measures are located including any outdoor components such as outdoor lighting.

4. Current Equipment and Baseline Energy Use

Baseline energy consumption documentation will be provided in the AgEMP.

· The agricultural energy management plan must evaluate the energy usage of the separate Components as listed by the Major Activity of the Farm Enterprises, ASABE S612, Performing On-farm Energy Audits, Table 1.

· Any other energy consuming farm enterprise activities or components, necessary to the farm production operation, that consume 10% - 15% or more of the total annual energy usage, must also be audited, when identified during the baseline energy use assessment.

· Cultural Practices listed in ASABE 612, Table 1 (planting, tilling, harvesting, and engine driven equipment) are the only exceptions that are an optional activity for CAP 128.

· A Major Activity being audited for energy efficiency that is associated with a field crop enterprise (outside of a facility) must address at a minimum the following Major Activities and Components: motors or pumps; drying; crop/feed storage; water management; material handling; and irrigation.

The report must provide:

a) The usage and costs for the baseline energy consumption separated by energy resource.

b) A baseline energy use from a prior, typical, consecutive 12 month period. The AgEMP must document all major activities associated with all farm enterprises being audited by:

(1) Describing the components, primary equipment, and/or details of the activity (type of use), as appropriate according to the amount of energy used, such as:

(a) Type and size of equipment (age, make, and model);

(b) Component equipment ratings/production levels such as hp, Btu input, Btu output, efficiency, lighting levels (lumens or Ft-c), ventilation levels (CFM/Watt);

(c) Identify current output levels of facility components, such as lighting and ventilation.

(i) Determine if the current output levels are adequate to meet producer needs or minimum standard requirements.

(ii) Identify if simple replacement (replacing components at current number and output) is adequate to meet producer needs or minimum standard requirements.

(d) Auxiliary items to enhance management such as thermostats, timers, and manual overrides of automatic systems.

(e) Where necessary for building envelope, identify the current estimated R-value and insulation thickness as appropriate.

(f) Identify any necessary changes to bring the facility up to industry and NRCS standards and any code violations related to safety/fire hazards.

(2) Provide an estimate of the annual energy consumption, by energy type for each activity.

(3) Provide an estimate of hours of use per year for each component evaluated.

(4) Explanation of major activities not applicable to the farm enterprise, or which have no opportunities for improved energy use.

c) Identify if simple replacement (replacing components at current number and output) is adequate or if upgrades or an increased size/number of component(s) are needed to meet producer needs or minimum standard requirements.

5. Recommended Energy Improvement Measures/Components

The AgEMP will identify potential energy improvement practices that will reduce energy use and address the energy management concerns of the relevant enterprises. The AgEMP must provide appropriate estimated energy savings relative to the baseline energy use for each examined improvement practice.

a) For each energy improvement Measure examined and documented in Tables 1 and 2, the report must present:

(1) Replacement component alternatives (number, type, and location of components) – Where increase of component output is needed to meet the applicable NRCS practice standard requirements or the landowner’s objectives, if greater levels needed (such as lighting or ventilation), list the alternatives available for the component replacement. Justify each alternative with a description of benefit and costs.

(2) The estimated energy savings of component alternative—first in the common sale units (kWh, gallons, etc.) and then converted to energy units of millions of British thermal units (MMBtu).

(3) The estimated annual energy cost savings of component alternative - in dollars per year as a departure from the baseline energy costs.

(4) The estimated installed cost in dollars. Utilize estimates obtained for the recommended component product.

(5) The estimated reductions in emissions for CO2, N2O, CH4, SO2, and NOx. NOTE: Guidance on how to calculate greenhouse gas emission reductions and air pollutant co-benefits is provided in Appendix A.

(6) The simple payback period in years (component alternative with installation cost divided by estimated annual cost saving, in years).

(7) Estimated life span, in years, of the recommended component measure.

b) Include energy use reduction and emissions reduction for all recommended practices in Tables 1 and 2 in the report. Energy savings and cost data for beneficial energy utilization practices may be included where appropriate for future use by the landowner.

c) The report must include sufficient product information (e.g. product specifications, product output, energy efficiency and cost) for landowner’s planning needs.

d) The report must include assumptions made and calculations completed along with supporting energy use documentation references for the costs of energy savings values estimated.

e) Organize this information in the Report Appendix. These details are not a design for installation, but rather a planning document with listed energy improvement opportunities. Documentation for recommended improvement measures/components must be sufficient to allow a third party to understand and evaluate the recommendations.

f) The audit must reflect non-discounted prices for reporting the installation cost and payback period. Do not factor in financial incentives such as EQIP payments or state energy rebates in the installation cost.

g) All recommended practices must be closely linked to improvements that optimize energy use. Improvements primarily related to production improvement may be included, but must not be a part of the energy analyses, and should be documented in the Report Appendix.

h) From the possible energy improvement measures/components examined, the report must clearly prioritize those energy efficient measures/components that have the most benefit. If a practice has very little energy saving benefit, the auditor will note that these improvement measures/components were considered, but found to be too expensive or that they have an unreasonably long payback period.

i) The auditor is encouraged to organize the analyses by enterprise and major activity as listed in Table 1 of the ASABE S612 standard.

6. Report Appendix

The report must include technical documentation of sources used for the AgEMP. The report should include the actual documents or references that contain technical information used to estimate energy savings and cost, such as:

a) Fact sheets.