The agriculture sector is an important element of the OPA’s business group’s conservation responsibilities. Traditionally, the sector—which has many players—has not participated in electricity decisions as their focus has been on the management of their farms.

Over time OPA plans to encourage three thoughts in this sector, as encouragement to participating specific conservation initiatives:

1. Electricity matters are integral to good farm management
2. Electricity savings are available no matter how you farm
3. Electricity has revenue opportunities that can complement your farm

In the early stages, the objectives of the OPA’s electricity conservation efforts focus on increasing participation in existing conservation and income opportunities—e.g. Electricity Retrofit Incentive Program and the OPA’s Standard Offer Program.

In the future, the OPA will present a broad cross-section of electricity conservation programs that will enable Ontario’s farming community to increase on-farm efficiency and income and contribute to the overall health of the province’s electricity system.
 

Summer 2010

Latest Edition (Volume 4, Issue 2 - Summer 2010) In this issue read about the experience of two Ontario dairy farm operations that installed energy efficient fans in their barns with the help of the Energy Retrofit Incentive Plan. In both cases, installing energy efficient fans not only helped the cows keep cooler and more comfortable, but also resulted in a reduction in energy costs and an increase in milk production. Also in this issue, learn how whales swimming in the ocean helped inspire two Ontario-based companies  to develop a  radically new type of turbine or fan blade modeled after the flippers of humpback whales, resulting in more efficient fans that not only circulate more air, but also do it more quietly than conventional, flat, straight-edged blades.