Shared Savings: Richards Dairy Farm

See the light

Farmers don’t have it easy – and every bit of savings can make a big difference. See how help from MGE’s Shared Savings program is making things a little brighter at Richards Dairy Farm.

Congratulations to Carolyn – she won a TaoTronics LED desk lamp for her great comment.

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COMMENTS

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  1. Ria said:

    It’s great that we can help and educate so many people within in our community to be more energy efficient!

    at 2:07 pm on February 15, 2018
  2. Bret Chocholous said:

    Great piece, excellent program for our customers!

    at 2:12 pm on February 15, 2018
  3. Pam said:

    Smart idea! hope they turn them off at night, give those hard working cows a rest. Glad the farmer enjoys his life; that’s important.

    at 2:14 pm on February 15, 2018
  4. Danny Andersen said:

    Nice story and good solution by MGE. Hard working folks.

    at 2:17 pm on February 15, 2018
  5. Catherine Willette said:

    GREAT program MG&E – especially for our Dairy Farmers!! Keep up the good work because they MUST remain competitive. And helping them keep lighting and/or electrical costs down is wonderful!! Thank you!!

    at 2:17 pm on February 15, 2018
  6. Tim said:

    Great program MG&E!

    at 2:18 pm on February 15, 2018
  7. Jane said:

    I love it that MGE can lend money to help folks become more energy efficient and get savings that will help the borrower repay the loan.

    at 2:21 pm on February 15, 2018
  8. Pat Harding said:

    Great example of how LED technology can save both money- and time given the long-lasting nature of LED bulbs

    at 2:22 pm on February 15, 2018
  9. Bart Schley said:

    Great story! Having grown up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, I can personally relate to the financial challenges that the Richard’s family and other farmers face on a regular basis. Furthermore, I am glad to hear that MGE is there to help farmers and other customers with energy efficiency needs, so that customers can grow their businesses. Makes me proud to say that I am an employee of MGE!

    at 2:24 pm on February 15, 2018
  10. Audrey Lucier said:

    I can see that larger farm operations requires more energy. I am glad they are being more efficient.

    at 2:28 pm on February 15, 2018
  11. Mack said:

    Great story. I hope these stories get outside of MGE, and more people can benefit from these energy saving opportunities.

    at 2:36 pm on February 15, 2018
  12. Tia Davis said:

    I really enjoyed this feel good story. It’s a great example showing how MGE can really make a difference within a business with energy advice and shared savings.

    Really nice to see the personal side of the business.

    at 3:08 pm on February 15, 2018
  13. Janeen said:

    Excellent story. Great program that MGE offers and glad they can help this farm to be more energy efficient.

    at 3:30 pm on February 15, 2018
  14. Mary Lu Anderson said:

    Its very interesting. I did not know that this benefit was available to small businesses. Anything to make better use of our energy sources.

    at 3:56 pm on February 15, 2018
  15. Anita A Faulkner said:

    I love the partnership that MGE has with their customers. Happy cows make better milk.

    at 4:09 pm on February 15, 2018
  16. Patty Prime said:

    Lights that are brighter and cost less too operate, what’s not to like?

    at 5:41 pm on February 15, 2018
  17. Nancy Gathing said:

    It must have hit hard to build a huge new barn in 2008 and have milk prices plummet in 2009 due to the Recession. In the struggle to recoup the unexpected loss, every factor is of consequence. There is a great demand for lighting in a huge dairy barn. M.G.E. was able to provide much more economically efficient L.E.D. lighting, financed through the Shared Savings program. It made a well-timed crucial difference for the Richards family-run Dairy Farm.

    at 12:29 am on February 16, 2018
  18. Joseph DePoorter said:

    This is one aspect that makes MGE a Community Energy Company. Bravo Zulu!

    at 6:51 am on February 16, 2018
  19. rick haagensen said:

    Awesome! Keep up the progressive thinking!

    at 7:07 am on February 16, 2018
  20. Laura H. said:

    Thanks for this cool peek at farm infrastructure!

    at 10:47 am on February 16, 2018
  21. Leah Forseth said:

    Thanks for sharing!

    at 11:45 am on February 16, 2018
  22. Maggie said:

    What a great story. I appreciate the focus on helping the community. Together, we can accomplish a lot!

    at 12:30 pm on February 16, 2018
  23. George F said:

    Good story. Thanks to all the farmers, and thanks to MG&E for the good solutions they provide.

    at 6:54 am on February 17, 2018
  24. David Lucey said:

    It’s great to see the willingness to spend some money to achieve energy efficiency. We all win when together we need less power from burning fossil to meet our needs for lighting. Thanks Richards Family and MGE.

    at 6:55 pm on February 17, 2018
  25. Kelly said:

    Glad programs like this exist. Thanks MG&E and Richards Dairy Farm!

    at 3:41 pm on February 18, 2018
  26. Alex M. said:

    Great to see people in industry getting on the LED bandwagon. Easy decision around the house, but could be a major investment re-fitting an entire farm. Will surely pay off over time!

    at 10:16 pm on February 19, 2018
  27. Jeremy said:

    Excellent.Every bit counts!

    at 10:15 am on February 20, 2018
  28. John said:

    That was a nice story! I have cousins who operate a dairy farm and it is a lot of work. Great to see MGE helping make things a little easier and cheaper for the farmers and their families.

    at 1:52 pm on February 20, 2018
  29. Carolyn Betz said:

    Changing over to LED lighting is one of the of the best ways to reduce energy use on a farm which also reduces greenhouse gas emissions from dairy operations.

    To Pam’s comment below: many farms leave the lights on all night, or most of the night. When the cows can see their food, they eat more and produce more milk, which is actually an efficiency. That’s part of the modern-day farm.

    at 11:47 am on February 22, 2018
  30. Jeffrey Swiggum said:

    It’s nice to see a program that helps farmers lower their energy usage and costs.

    at 2:50 pm on February 23, 2018
  31. Carol said:

    Good program for customers!

    at 3:53 pm on February 23, 2018
  32. Mark Sannito said:

    Love that we are able to help out the local rural economy with saving tips. They really are the backbone for us.

    at 10:19 am on March 1, 2018

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