WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A green energy program that will focus on alternative energy technologies and their impact on rural communities will be held March 17 in Covington, Ind.

“This program, designed specifically for farmers, rural landowners and businesses, will help producers understand how they can benefit from renewable energy,” said Chad Martin, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service renewable energy specialist. “These developments are going to have profound impacts on the community and it’s all about opportunity and taking advantage of it.”

According to Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service renewable energy specialist, this program is designed specifically for farmers, rural landowners and businesses to help producers understand how they can benefit from renewable energy.

Martin, one of the program speakers, will discuss the importance of improving energy efficiency. He also will highlight a Purdue program designed to help farmers with grain drying and how those systems can be audited on their energy consumption.

“We want participants to walk away knowing the areas of their operation that consume the most energy and how those areas can be improved,” Martin said.

Going Green: Alternative & Renewable Resources for Farm, Business and Home will be 5 p.m.-8 p.m., with registration beginning at 4:30 p.m., at the Beef House Restaurant. Registration is $20 per person, which includes dinner and program materials, and is due by March 12. To register, contact Kelly Pearson at 765-762-3231, kppearson@purdue.edu or visit https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=2527.

Topics and speakers include:

• An overview of what’s happening with wind energy and implications for farms and rural landowners, Martin.
• Current solar energy technology and implications for farms and rural landowners, Ted Funk, University of Illinois Extension specialist of bioenvironmental engineering.
• Dinner discussion highlighting what farmers, rural landowners and businesses need to know about energy.
• Nuts and bolts of farm energy audits and renewable energy grants for farm improvements and upgrades, Martin.

For more information, contact Pearson at 765-762-3231, kppearson@purdue.edu, or Mark Spelbring at 765-569-3176, spelbrin@purdue.edu. The Beef House Restaurant is located at 16501 N. State Road 63 in Covington.

Purdue Extension and the University of Illinois Extension sponsor the green energy program.