Growing Up Indoors – How Fluence Can Assist with Valuable Incentives and Rebates

Person tending cannabis plants under LED grow lights in commercial cultivation facility.

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If you are looking to grow your operation by retrofitting for LEDs, multi-tiered racking, or both, then Fluence can get you started by calculating ROI and determining the best possible financial incentives or rebates in your locality. LEDs reduce the environmental impact of conventional electricity production and place less strain on the electrical grid. These tangible benefits have compelled governments and private organizations to offer financial assistance to those making the switch to LED lighting. Combined with Fluence’s ability to expertly navigate regulatory considerations and rebate opportunities around the world, there’s never been a better time for cultivators to start their LED transformation. As of 2021, the dedicated Fluence Incentives and Rebate Team has saved customers more than $15 million on their LED fixtures. In the U.S. and Canada, for instance, utility companies often assist with between 25 to 30 percent of capital expenses (and, in some cases, upwards of 50 percent). These monumental savings make the upgrade to LEDs easier and more affordable than ever. Indeed, as more and more growers switch to LED systems, farmers will be forced to abandon their legacy lights just to compete with advancing technology. Fluence works directly with you to take advantage of local programs and help you fund projects by:
  • Confirming the availability of funding and customer eligibility.
  • Working with utility representatives to establish expectations and meet deadlines.
  • Assisting energy reduction analysis and documentation.
  • Negotiating custom incentives with utility companies if programs are not available (in some circumstances).
  Most utility companies will offer programs based on either prescriptive rebates or custom incentives, although some will offer a mixture of the two. With prescriptive rebates, you are paid a predetermined sum to help you purchase qualified LED fixtures to replace HPS systems (fixtures that are approved by the DLC Qualified Product List). In the case of custom incentive programs, an assessment of current energy use and lighting systems will need to be conducted to provide an accurate refund based on the savings in energy use, demand, or both.

Start the process early!

Cultivators should contact Fluence early in their planning – even if the specifications of a retrofit design are likely to change. Ultimately, a design change later won’t impact an existing application, which can maximize growers’ opportunities to secure rebates or subsidies. Annual funding from utility companies may become exhausted before the project’s completion.

If you need support, begin today.

Financial support is available for those who want to make the switch to LED systems. If you’re ready to change your lighting but need help accessing funding opportunities, contact us so we can help you get started!