The Oregon Department of Energy's Rural & Agricultural Energy Audit Program is funded by an Energy Audit​ and Renewable Energy Development Assistan​ce Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture​ (known as a REDA grant). The funding will support energy audits for Oregon rural small businesses and agricultural producers statewide.

An energy assessment of an agricultural producer or rural small business will be conducted by an​ approved assessor who inspects buildings, processes, and equipment to measure efficiency and identify improvements that can save energy. For businesses considering investing in renewable energy like solar to offset energy u​sage, making energy efficiency improvements first can reduce the size (and costs) of the renewable project they’ll need. An assessor will determine opportunities to reduce energy use and costs, and can help prioritize projects based on energy savings, payback period, and other factors​.

Federal, local, and utility funding may be available to rural small businesses and agricultural producers​​​ for making energy improvements, and an energy assessment is often a required step. For example, an energy assessment is required when applying to the USDA Rural Energy Assistance Program, which offers both grants and loan guarantees to rural small ​businesses and agricultural producers for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

​​The cost of an energy assessment can vary from about $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the size and scope, and can be a significant barrier for businesses. By covering 75 percent of that cost, ODOE hopes more Oregon rural businesses and farms can participate in an energy assessment to identify potential improvements, and take advantage of USDA and other funding. ​