The Energy Trust of Oregon helps people, businesses and organizations use less energy and save money on their energy bills. They also help connect customers to clean, renewable power.

At this year’s Northwest Ag Show, the Energy Trust and the Oregon Department of Energy are working together to help farmers and ranchers save on their electrical bills. Representatives of both the Energy Trust and the Department of Energy will be on hand to discuss farmers’ individual situations and needs.

Energy Trust serves 1.6 million utility customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington. That includes a large variety of people and communities: ranchers, farmers, renters, homeowners, schools, hospitals and even cities and towns in rural and urban areas.

The independent nonprofit works closely with farmers to understand their operations, what their needs are, and help them identify which projects or changes could help them the most. It may consist of significant energy savings by updating a heating and cooling system or making changes to an irrigation system that result in sizable energy and water savings.

Energy Trust offers irrigation rebates and incentives for big projects, like converting to drip irrigation, but also smaller upgrades.

For example, farmers can purchase gaskets to replace leaky ones and receive financial assistance by simply sending in a rebate form.

In addition to irrigation, Energy Trust also helps lower the cost of installing other energy-saving materials and equipment often used on farms and nurseries.

Upgrades to lighting systems, insulation, heating and cooling systems and greenhouses are geared to improve the environment, save costs for the operator and make an operation run better overall.

“Oregon farmers have to manage the land while also successfully running a small business and we exist to help them do that,” Kegan Craig of Energy Trust said. “From heating and cooling to irrigation, we have funding and resources for upgrades that could lower their costs and cut down maintenance time.

“Every farm and business has its own challenges,” Craig said. “We collaborate with owners one-on-one and then help them identify what changes could be most helpful in saving them energy, water and money.”

Celeste Jackson, owner of the Dirty Cowgirl Saloon in Wasco, Ore., received cash incentives from Energy Trust and a grant from the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to help ease the financial burden of replacing outdated HVAC equipment.

When they purchased the 100-plus-year-old building, all the equipment and every appliance was more than 30 years old.

The Dirty Cowgirl Saloon’s new equipment qualified for $1,300 in Energy Trust cash incentives, which, combined with the REAP grant, funded just over half of the upgrade.

Now employees and customers at the bar and restaurant enjoy reliable, efficient heating and cooling that saves the business over $200 a year on utility costs. A smart thermostat installation saves them another $100 a year on utility bills.

Energy Trust and the state Department of Energy invite anyone interested in saving energy and increasing overall efficiency to stop by Booths 49 and 50 at the Northwest Ag Show to talk with a representative about how to start saving energy.