The state government is expanding its On-Farm Energy Program to include grants for energy efficient infrastructure, Energy Minister Guy Barnett announced on Sunday. 

Mr Barnett said the aim of the program was to help farmers lower their energy bills. 

“This will provide cost savings, because energy is a top priority in terms of keeping the costs of business down,” he said. 

“It’s an expansion of our Tasmania-first energy initiative, because we want Tasmanians to have the lowest cost energy in Australia by 2022.

“We’re pleased that we’re on track to achieve that, but there’s still more work to do.” 

The announcement is an expansion of a $750,000 program, announced in May, that provided funding for energy and irrigation audits of on-farm activities to identify potential savings.

The audits are still available, but the On-Farm Energy Program grants will contribute to farmers purchasing the infrastructure recommended in the audits.

Mr Barnett said the government aimed to boost the value of agricultural in Tasmania to $10 billion by 2050. 

“The food sector in Tasmania is now worth a combined $4.1 billion, with 76 per cent of production sold interstate or overseas,so saving money for our farmers will help us reach our target,” he said.