Cooperative launches LED Poultry Light Grant Program

Poultry farmers will soon receive a helping hand from Delaware Electric Cooperative. The co-op is launching its LED Poultry Lighting Grant Program to help farmers convert incandescent and CFL poultry lights to energy-efficient LED lights.

LED lights use about 80 percent less energy than traditional poultry lights. Delaware Electric Cooperative will offer the bulbs to growers for $7 per bulb through the grant program. The high-efficiency LEDs usually cost $35.

According to data compiled by the University of Arkansas, growers will be able to save $983 per year by installing the LED lights, assuming their poultry house produces six flocks per year.

DEC has set aside $75,000 for the program in 2012, with an additional $30,000 in funding coming from a grant from the Delaware Energy Efficiency Investment Fund.

According to DEC President and CEO Bill Andrew, “This grant program will provide a 75 percent discount to farmers looking to install energy-efficient poultry lighting. The LED lights can last up to nine years and will save growers money over the life of the lights.”

To qualify for a grant, growers must be served by Delaware Electric Cooperative. Because of the high level of expected interest, grant recipients may be chosen through a lottery system. The co-op will only provide enough lights for one poultry house per member, and grant money will not cover any costs associated with installing the LED lights.

Delaware Electric Cooperative will purchase the lights, and farmers will be asked to pick up the bulbs at DEC’s headquarters in Greenwood. For more information on the program, contact Kevin Yingling, manager of marketing at (302) 349-3120 or kevin@decoop.com or visit their Web site at www.delaware.coop.

Applications are due by April 20. Delaware Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric utility serving 84,000 member-owners in Kent and Sussex counties.