Resources for Agriculture and Food Processing

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Peak Day Pricing

Small & Medium Agriculture: 1-200kW
Beginning March, 2013, PG&E is transitioning Small and Medium Agricultural customers to time-varying pricing, which allows customers to pay lower rates when energy demand is low and higher rates during times when energy demand is highest.

Fact Sheets and Tech Briefs

Review and download Fact Sheets based on your area of agricultural field interest. These documents will provide you with information on PG&E services, rebate/incentive technologies, programs, and California Energy Standards.

General Agriculture Irrigation

Greenhouses

Dairies

Food Processing

Industrial Refrigeration

Wineries and Vineyards

Post-Harvest

General Fact Sheets, Case Studies and Tech Briefs

Case Studies

Shedding Load During Demand Response Events

Dairies

  • Pre-cool, then float or cycle refrigeration
  • Shift irrigation tasks to take place before or after an event
  • Instead of running at full operation, conduct only certain processes and delay the rest until after the event or the next day
  • Turn off barn and yard lights

Food Processing Facilities

  • Turn off vertical lifts and conveyor belts and non-essential process and product transportation equipment.
  • Shut down or cycle air compressors, air handlers and ventilation systems.
  • Turn off or turn down chillers, and reset chilled water temperature.
  • Adjust variable speed drive controls to reduce load from fans, pumps and chillers.
  • Turn down, turn off or cycle blowers, pump motors, and any other air circulation motors.
  • Pre-cool, then float or cycle refrigeration.
  • Reduce or reschedule production.
  • Stockpile inventory before an event, stop production during the event and store for packaging processes after the event.
  • Move batch and continuous processes to either before or after an event, or to another day.

Greenhouses

  • Turn down or turn off any and all greenhouse lights.
  • Turn down or cycle cooling fans, ceiling fans, blowers, chillers, or any other air circulation equipment and motors.
  • Adjust variable speed drive controls to reduce load from fans, pumps and chillers.
  • Shift use of non-essential electrical equipment, such as pumps, fans and ventilation controls, to before or after an event.

Wineries

  • Turn off or turn down chillers, and reset chilled water temperature.
  • Adjust variable speed drive controls to reduce load from fans, pumps and chillers.
  • Turn down or turn off pumping equipment, conveyor belts, vertical lifts and non-essential process equipment.
  • Stockpile inventory prior to an event, and reduce production, packaging or storage functions.
  • Move batch and continuous processes to either before or after an event, or to another day.
  • Decrease use of aerators during an event.

Training

Sign up for free local classes & workshops hosted by your PG&E Training Center. Learn and access many free services and resources PG&E can provide your Ag or Food Processing business.

Stockton Training Center | Pacific Training Center

Advanced Pumping Efficiency Program (APEP)

This popular program administered by Fresno State University subsidies pump efficiency testing of fresh water pumps so farmers know the state of their irrigation resources. You can then make informed decisions of when to repair or replace a worn pump or motor before it fails during the growing season.

APEP Website | Training Calendar

California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA)

This unique partnership provides Wineries & Vintners with an opportunity to attend free workshops specifically designed to help them with their sustainable winegrowing practices and energy reduction needs. Your local PG&E rep can assist you with rebates, incentives and programs that will help optimize your energy use.

CSWA Website | Training Calendar 

Authorized Partner Agriculture and Food Processing Programs

ProgramPartner
Industrial Refrigeration Performance Plus (IRRP)Vacom Technologies
California Dairy Energy Efficiency Program (DEEP)EnSave, Inc.
Comprehensive Food Processing Audit and Resource Efficiency ProgramGlobal Energy Partners, LLC
Wine Industry Efficiency Solutions Program (WIES)Resource Solutions Group (RSG)
Commercial Industrial Boiler Efficiency Program (CIBEP)Enovity
Process Wastewater Treatment Energy Management ProgramBASE Energy, Inc.
Dairy Industry Resource Advantage ProgramResource Solutions Group (RSG)
Light Exchange ProgramRichard Heath and Associates, Inc. (RHA)

On-Bill Financing

Lets you make facilities improvements without large outlays of cash. PG&E will finance the project, and you pay the loan – interest-free – through your monthly utility bills. Ag & Food Processing customers may qualify for loans between $5,000 and $100,000, with loan periods of up to 60 months. Learn More

MorrisonGrants

This site is your one-stop for green grant resources, focusing on food and agribusiness, alternative energy, and environmental programs. Get help finding, writing, and administering grants that meet your organization's needs. Over 2,200 programs posted.

Contact Us

  • Agricultural Customer Service Center
    1-877-311-FARM (3276)

Related Links

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