The Natural Resources Conservation Service is trying to reduce energy consumption on farms in Laramie County.
Jim Pike is the district conservationist for the NRCS. He says many farms in the area have old, inefficient irrigation equipment that uses so much power it can overload the electrical grid.
“In 2012, the rural electric company had to bring portable, truck-mounted generators that were powered by diesel motors to generate additional electricity because they couldn’t keep up with it in their normal infrastructure,” Pike said.
Pike’s office provides financial support to farmers who buy newer, more efficient equipment. He says many farms have reduced their energy consumption by more than 20 percent.
Pike expects all the old irrigation equipment in Laramie County to be replaced by the end of 2015.