Richmond, VA – As farmers nationwide look to lower costs, increase resilience and meet evolving environmental expectations, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has launched two research programs aimed squarely at agricultural and rural operations: the 2025 Propane Farm Research Program (PFRP) and the Alternative Technology Demonstration & Research Program.
Together, these initiatives offer more than $30,000 in combined savings per qualifying site for farmers who adopt innovative propane-powered systems.
No matter the size of operation, the Propane Farm Research Program offers compensation to producers for documenting propane’s performance on the farm. Participants receive financial compensation towards the purchase of qualifying equipment, including:
- $600/liter of displacement for propane-powered industrial engines.
- Up to $3,000 for certified dual fuel power systems.
- $60/kW for prime power generation.
- $30/kW for backup power generation.
- $2,000 for water heating systems.
- Up to $2,000 for poultry, swine, and greenhouse heating systems.
- $2,000 for poultry sanitization equipment.
- $1,500 for flame weed control systems.
In addition, larger greenhouse operations or commercial-scale livestock facilities can also qualify for the Alternative Technology Demonstration & Research Program. This program helps participants incorporate advanced propane technologies like combined heat and power (CHP) systems, which offer unmatched efficiency by capturing otherwise wasted heat and reducing electricity usage by up to 90 percent.
Compensation offered for qualifying equipment includes:
- $30,000 for propane CHP units on sites greater than 15kW.
- $12,000 for propane CHP units on sites less than 15kW.
- $300/ton for propane cooling equipment ranging from light commercial (5T-25T) to heavy commercial (100T+).
“Whether it’s heating barns or greenhouses or powering engines or generators, propane continues to prove itself as an efficient, sustainable energy source in modern agriculture,” said Michael Newland, director of agriculture business development at PERC. “Advanced propane technology significantly reduces energy costs, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and provides reliable on-site power. We know the purchase of such equipment is an investment for businesses, but a worthwhile one, and we hope that these programs will help more growers take advantage of these benefits sooner.”
To learn more about these programs and determine eligibility, visit Propane.com/PFRP and Propane.com/AltTech.
Funding is limited, and early applications are encouraged.