A Farmer's Guide to Energy Self-Reliance
helping farmers increase energy self-reliance and profitability

Energy Solutions for Small Farms

The following guide is a tool to help farmers increase energy self-reliance and profitability. Reducing operating costs and finding new sources of revenue can give farms the edge they need to compete in the marketplace. In addition, farmers have a long tradition of being stewards of the land. Investing in renewable energy and reducing energy use are important steps to protecting the land, air, and water. This guide offers suggestions that fit into three interrelated categories: improving energy efficiency, using biomass, and utilizing other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. The suggestions outlined in this guide do not cover every aspect of energy use, but are a starting point. Energy management is not easy. However, there are many benefits to it. This guide is intended to serve as a resource to help farmers increase profits while decreasing some of the harmful environmental effects of farming.
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Success Story
Implementing Energy Self-Reliance

Norman Dewar's Hog Farm

Norman Dewar’s hog farm uses a wood chip system to heat his 100 sow farrow-to-finish operation. His 130 kW wood chip system heats the sow barn, nursery, farrowing barn, office and storage building. It also produces enough hot water to supply a four gal/min. pressure washer as well as hot water for personal use in the barn.
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State Line Farm and Clear Brook Farm

With help from University of Vermont scientists, John Williamson and Steve Plummer are working to produce ethanol and biodiesel. In order to distill their own ethanol, they have been growing sweet sorghum and sugar beets. They have also learned how to make lye from wood ash. At the other end of the shed from the ethanol still, a metal container is nearly overflowing with oil the color of melted butter.
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This site is created and maintained by the Research Associates of the Institute for Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law School.