USDA Releases Energy Efficiency Dollars
Loans and grants will create jobs, reduce energy costs for agricultural producers and rural small businesses.
Compiled by staff
Published: Dec 15, 2011
USDA is releasing loans and grants for agricultural producers and rural small businesses across the country to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in their operations. Collectively, these Rural Energy for America Program-funded projects and those announced earlier are expected to lower energy usage by two billion kilowatts and prevent nearly two million metric tons of emissions from being released into the environment. These federal dollars are leveraged with other funding sources for the projects.
USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager made the announcement on behalf of USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack at an energy efficiency conference in New Orleans. He told the group that in Fiscal Year 2011, USDA Rural Development provided a total of $23.2 million for energy efficiency projects, $20.9 million for biodigesters, $20.3 million for solar energy projects, $8.2 million for hydroelectric systems, $7 million for biomass energy projects, $4.28 million for flexible fuel pump projects, $3.9 million for wind energy projects, and $1.4 million for geothermal installations.
"Stable energy costs create an environment for job growth in rural America," Vilsack said. "The Obama Administration is helping agricultural producers and business owners reduce their energy costs and consumption – and by doing so is helping preserve our natural resources, protect the environment and strengthen the bottom line for businesses, ranchers and farm operations."
With today's announcement, USDA Rural Development is funding more than 280 projects to help reduce energy costs. In all, the department funded more than 1,100 energy efficiency projects in fiscal year 2011, including improvements in aquaculture, poultry lighting and ventilation, irrigation system upgrades, maple syrup production efficiency, small business heating and cooling, rural grocery cooler replacement and others.
Funding of each REAP award is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant or loan agreement. Grants can finance up to 25% of a project's cost, not to exceed $500,000 for renewable energy, $250,000 for energy efficiency. A complete REAP recipients announced is available by clicking here.
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Tagged: usda, energy costs, farm, Irrigation
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