Dairy farmers now have access to grants of up to $20,000 to help lower power bills and reduce Australia's emissions.
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Grants of up to $20,000 will be available for a dairy farming business to upgrade equipment to reduce energy consumption, invest in monitoring systems to better manage energy use, and conduct energy audits to investigate other opportunities for energy efficient activities.
The Energy Efficient Communities Program was announced as part of the Government's Climate Solutions Package in the 2019 Federal Budget and $10 million has been made specifically available for the dairy round.
Energy use is one of the highest overheads in the dairy industry, making up a significant part of a dairy farm's operational costs.
Member for Lyne, David Gillespie said the program aims to help dairy farming businesses lower their power bills by becoming more energy efficient.
"The Government's support will help dairy farmers in their efforts to better manage their energy use while also continuing to play a role in reducing global emissions," Dr Gillespie said.
Farmers have long been at the forefront of innovation to reduce the cost of doing business and emissions output, but energy costs remain high.
To ensure an equitable distribution across dairying regions, funding will be available in each state in proportion to the number of dairy farms.
Guidelines and application forms are available at business.gov.au or by calling 13 28 46. Applications close on August 17.