Ag producers and small businesses are encouraged to attend a meeting in Beatrice hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development to discuss energy opportunities available via its Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements grant program.

Nebraska Public Power District will provide information regarding the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and how it may benefit commercial building owners.

The meeting is scheduled from 9 a.m.-noon Monday, Feb. 11, at the Holiday Inn Express on North U.S. Highway 77.

The meetings are recommended to all ag producers and small-business owners who are wanting to apply for energy-type projects. Participants will become familiar with the energy program’s eligibility requirements and will be guided through the application process.

Funds can be used for a wide range of projects such as irrigation projects, motor upgrades, HVAC, lighting, windows/doors, insulation and a variety of other energy-saving measures, as well as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and hydrogen-renewable projects. Residential improvements are not eligible.

NPPD will discuss the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for Commercial Business which established a new deduction for expenses incurred for energy-efficient commercial building property. The deduction is equal to energy-efficient commercial building property expenditures made by the taxpayer, subject to a cap.

NPPD will cover the potential tax deductions for commercial interior lighting systems; heating, cooling, ventilation, and hot water systems; or the building envelope.

USDA Rural Development awarded $1 million in energy grants to Nebraska recipients in Fiscal Year 2007 assisting in 101 energy efficiency improvements projects and 2 renewable energy projects.

Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill established the USDA Rural Development Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements grant program. Since the program’s inception, Nebraska has received nearly $4.2 million for 314 energy projects.

For more information, contact Roger Meeks, area director, USDA Rural Development, (402) 423-9683, ext. 4, or roger.meeks@ne.usda.gov.