Vitality in the Valley: Breakout Sessions

Image of a rooster wearing a cape on a rock with silhouetted mountains against the blue cloudy sky in the background

Vitality in the Valley

Food, Agriculture, and Manufacturing

MANUFACTURING EXPO

Vitality in the Valley

Food, Agriculture, and Manufacturing

MANUFACTURING EXPO

Agriculture Track: Energy Efficiency and Cost Reduction Tech

Energy Saving Technology and Grant / Incentive Programs:

In this session, we will dive into Energy Efficiency (EE) equipment and design along with Economic Development Grants and utility incentives for high efficient equipment. A Q&A panel will follow the presentations.

Mr. Anderson has been an economic developer with National Grid since 1999. For 22 years, he has worked extensively with local, regional, and state economic developers in Central and Western New York.

Brian Anderson

Lead Economic Developer, National Grid

Brian will discuss Economic Development funding opportunities for new and existing agribusiness and manufacturing facilities. Topics he will touch upon include agribusiness productivity, renewable energy installations, 3-phase electric line extensions, and more.

Nathan started Complete Dairy Service LLC in 2011 as an electrical/mechanical contractor for dairy farms in Cayuga County. Complete Dairy Service focuses on automation and heavy electrical. In 2014, they were involved with building their first milking center for a 3,000 cow dairy in Venice Center NY, and have built a large project every year since.

Nathan Mitchell

Owner, Complete Dairy Systems

Nathan will discuss equipment that can make your facility more efficient such as LED lights, Variable Frequency Drives (VFD’s), process equipment and facility design.

John has been with National Grid for 8 years working in the Energy Efficiency group. He covers the Commercial, Industrial and Agricultural markets in the Western New York Area.

John Snyder

Sr. Energy Consultant, National Grid

John will discuss the incentive programs offered by National Grid, for the implementation of new technology.

Energy Efficiency Programs and Funding Opportunities:

There are “best practices” that can save you money and energy! A Q&A panel will follow the presentations

Gary Pereira is the Business Programs Specialist at USDA Rural Development Agency State Office in Syracuse, NY. Mr. Pereira has worked extensively over the past 14 years in the Value-Added Producer Grant Program and Rural Energy for America Program at USDA.

Gary Pereira

Business Programs Specialist, USDA Rural Development Agency

Gary will discuss the Rural Energy for America Program

Jessica is a Project Manager in NYSERDA’s Industrial and Agriculture Group. She has an engineering degree from Rensselaer and has been working in energy efficiency with the commercial and industrial sector for over 20 years.

Jessica Zweig

Project Manager, NYSERDA

Jessica will discuss NYSERDA’s Agriculture Energy Audit Program, Agriculture Energy-Related Best Practices and the NY-Sun program.

Scott Fickbohm currently works for the NYS Department of Ag & Markets (AGM) as a Regional Associate Environmental Analyst (AEA) and is the NYS Conservation Reserve Program Coordinator. As an AEA, Scott acts as a liaison and contract administrator between the Soil and Water Conservation Districts in central NY and AGM.

Scott Fickbohm

Scott Fickbohm, AEA, NYS Dept of Ag & Markets

I will be discussing the Climate Resilient Farming Program and, hopefully, participants will walk away with the resources they need to know about participating in agricultural carbon sequestration and climate resiliency programs.