CEA Environmental Agriculture CEA

What is Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)?

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) refers to advanced farming methods that use controlled systems to optimize growing conditions for plants. This approach allows growers to produce high-quality crops year-round, regardless of external weather conditions, by managing key factors like temperature, humidity, light, water, and nutrients. CEA systems include greenhouses, vertical farms, and indoor farming facilities, which utilize technologies such as LED lighting, automated controls, and hydroponic or aeroponic systems to maximize efficiency and yield.

CEA Greenhouse

CEA Greenhouse

CEA reduces reliance on natural resources like soil and water, minimizes pest issues, and enables consistent production closer to urban markets. This helps meet the growing demand for fresh, locally sourced produce while addressing global challenges like climate change and resource scarcity.

At ERI, we specialize in helping CEA companies optimize their operations through energy efficiency upgrades and financial incentives, making their facilities more sustainable and cost-effective.



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Rebates and Grants for CEA

We help make agricultural technology projects in greenhouses and indoor farms happen.
Our energy analysis and technical writing services pave the way for growers to get paid by rebates and grant programs for energy-saving projects. In some cases, growers can receive rebate and grant funding for the same project!

Some equipment that can qualify for rebates and grants include:

  • LED horticultural lighting
  • High efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC)
  • Greenhouse curtains
  • Efficient refrigeration systems
  • Lighting controls
  • Climate controls
  • Irrigation controls

Rebate eligibility depends on facility address and local utility availability. U.S. growers are eligible for USDA REAP grants in all 50 states.

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Utility Energy Efficiency Incentives

How can our turnkey rebate services help you maximize incentives from your electric or natural gas utility for equipment upgrades or new construction projects?

  • CEA Ideas

    The engineers at ERI have helped hundreds of growers across the United States turn their project ideas into payments.

  • CEA Reports

    Our customized one-page rebate report tells you what you can expect from your local programs based on your custom project details.

  • CEA Payments

    We don’t require any upfront payment. The fee for our services is a small percentage of the final incentive paid by your utility.

  • CEA Savings

    Our team submits your paperwork including all the technical stuff and stays on top of project approvals.

  • CEA Review

    We demonstrate your project’s energy savings to utility program technical reviewers clearly so everyone understands your project’s benefits and you receive the largest potential incentive.



“The Chef’s Garden is a family owned and operated specialty vegetable farm located in Huron, Ohio. We direct market our produce to restaurants and home consumers across the US. We are in the midst of a multi-year project to replace HPS greenhouse lighting with dynamic LED by Sollum. We have worked with ERI on this project to maximize results including grants and utility rebates. Their support has been extremely helpful in this effort. We continue to operate our farm Regeneratively (certified Regenified) in our effort to ship our nutrient dense produce direct from our farm to our customers in a carbon neutral way. We enthusiastically recommend ERI to other environmentally conscious growers!”
– Bob Jones The Chef’s Garden
CEA The Chef's Garden


CEA Strange Kloudz
Some rebate programs are straightforward, but many utilities use custom incentives that can require pre-approval, technical review, pre-inspection, and post-installation verification. Let ERI take care of the whole process for you, with comprehensive rebate services tailored to each customer’s needs.

Each project begins with a rebate assessment where ERI engineers estimate a potential incentive based on your project details. Before you purchase any equipment, we submit your project application to the local utility and secure your project’s pre-approval. Once pre-approval is received, you can purchase and install your equipment. Our team completes the final application on your behalf after construction is complete and navigates the project through final technical review, rebate processing, and payment.

Have you already purchased equipment? Contact us to find out if your facility is located in a region served by a rebate program that accepts applications retroactively.


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CEA greenhouse at dusk

USDA REAP Grants

Through the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), growers can receive grants for up to 50% of project costs (up to $500,000 per application) for replacing old or inefficient equipment in greenhouses and indoor farms! ERI has a proven track record of helping growers successfully secure hundreds of thousands of dollars of funding for LED lights, greenhouse curtains, efficient HVAC equipment, and controls upgrades.

Our expertise and strategic approach have resulted in substantial REAP grant awards for our clients, including the largest grant awarded in REAP history. ERI supports clients every step of the way, from identifying eligible projects to managing the application process, maximizing their chances of approval and helping them achieve sustainable energy cost savings. Let ERI guide you through transforming your facilities and making the most of REAP funding opportunities!

If you’re applying for the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), we can help you maximize your chances of success. Eligible applicants include agricultural producers or rural small businesses. This program supports renewable energy systems (RES) and energy efficiency improvements (EEI), with special consideration for projects benefiting disadvantaged communities, Tribal entities, or using innovative renewable technologies.

At ERI, we specialize in simplifying the application process. With extensive experience securing grants for growers, we guide clients through the entire process. This includes crafting compelling project proposals, creating detailed budgets, and ensuring compliance with federal registration and reporting requirements. Our expertise ensures your application is accurate, complete, and competitive.

Let us leverage our proven track record to help you unlock funding opportunities. We’ll work with you every step of the way to secure REAP funding for your energy efficiency or renewable energy projects. For additional details, the USDA provides a helpful application guide.



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USDA REAP Loan Guarantees

The USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides loan guarantees for energy efficiency projects, including those for new greenhouses or indoor farms. Eligible businesses can apply for loan guarantees up to $25 million for energy efficient equipment and/or renewable energy systems! REAP loans approved in Fiscal Year 2025 will receive an 80% guarantee. This initiative primarily benefits rural small businesses and agricultural producers seeking to reduce energy costs by upgrading to energy-efficient equipment or renewable energy systems. Loan guarantee funds can be used in conjunction with REAP grant funds described above.

The USDA’s official website provides additional details on eligibility and application instructions:

Additional Details



“Working with ERI was a game-changer for Vertical Harvest. Their expertise in developing the Technical Merit Summary documentation was invaluable in securing our USDA REAP Loan Guarantee. With no baseline standards in existence for the Indoor Agriculture industry, ERI crafted a compelling baseline comparison that showcased our project’s energy-saving potential. Their swift and thorough approach not only facilitated our application but also enabled us to secure essential project financing.”
– Will Morrow, CFO
CEA cucumber in the greenhouse

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Manufacturer & Distributor Partnerships

Do you manufacture or distribute energy efficient equipment for greenhouses or indoor farms? We can work together to lower the costs of your customers’ projects. Join our partnership program and get help navigating the thousands of rebate programs in the U.S. and enhance your services for growers. These programs are designed to subsidize equipment purchases, reduce installation costs, and accelerate project timelines.

Our program can help you expand your offerings and enhance customer satisfaction by providing guidance on available incentives for energy-efficient technologies like LED lighting, high-efficiency HVAC systems, and advanced controls. Working with us means that you can offer more than just equipment—you can offer a streamlined process for your customers to access financial support, improve their bottom line, and meet sustainability goals. This added value can increase the appeal of your products in a competitive market and build long-term relationships with your customers.



CEA Vertical Garden
“The cost, consumption and carbon footprint associated with energy use in controlled-environment agriculture is a major barrier to the success of many indoor and greenhouse farms. While there are countless products and programs available to help growers become more energy efficient, they are often too cost or time prohibitive to implement. After working with ERI, I was impressed by how quickly and thoroughly they analyzed our client’s needs and implemented new tactics that not only increased their energy efficiency and crop productivity, but ultimately improved their bottom-line.”
– Travis, Libra Design

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