WASHINGTON, April 22, 2021 – Today, in honor of Earth Day 2021, Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson announced the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $487 million in critical infrastructure that will help communities in 45 states build back better and stronger while prioritizing climate-smart solutions and environmental stewardship. USDA is making the investments under the Water and Environmental Programs, the Rural Energy for America Program, the Electric Loan Program, and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. In Maine, eleven wastewater facilities and rural businesses will receive over $6 million in loans and grants from USDA Rural Development.
“When we invest in accessible and modern climate-smart infrastructure in rural communities, we invest in rebuilding the middle class by creating good-paying jobs,” Maxson said. “The investments we are announcing today demonstrate how the Biden-Harris Administration has put rural communities at the heart of climate action and climate-smart solutions.”
USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Tommy R. Higgins said, “Today’s Earth Day announcement of over six million dollars invested in rural Maine communities underscores USDA Rural Development’s everyday commitment to a healthy, clean, and sustainable environment. This key announcement facilitates the upgrade of water and wastewater infrastructure in rural communities and helps to install renewable energy systems in rural businesses, preserving the beautiful Maine environment we all treasure.”
Through this Earth Day announcement, eleven wastewater facilities and rural businesses in Maine will receive a total of $6,052,958 for critical infrastructure upgrades and renewable energy installation:
- City of Rockland will receive a Water and Waste Direct Loan in the amount of $462,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to pay for the additional costs incurred to rehabilitate the city of Rockland’s wastewater treatment facility. The proposed project will focus on the wastewater system as it is in need of immediate upgrades. Some of the plant's original equipment and processes are upwards of forty years old, and the overall facility is well beyond the twenty-year useful life for which it was originally designed. The proposed upgrades, which are long overdue, will help the system operate more effectively and efficiently, as well as address the Maine Department of Environmental Protection's health and sanitary concerns. The upgrades included in this project represent the highest priorities identified in the city's Strategic Plan and Combined Sewer Overflow Master Plan and will have the greatest benefit to the distribution system. The proposed project will not only correct the plant's current operating deficiencies, but also help the city improve their economic development opportunities.
- Boothbay Harbor Sewer District will receive a Water and Waste Direct Loan in the amount of $650,000 and Grant in the amount of $338,500. This Rural Development investment will be used to reline approximately 12,000 linear feet of existing sewer line in the greater downtown area of Boothbay Harbor. The Boothbay Harbor Sewer District provides safe & reliable sanitary wastewater services for the inhabitants of Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay, and Southport. The rehabilitation improvements address the aging infrastructure and capacity issues in the project area, as well as restore the design capacity of the system at a reasonable cost. The proposed upgrades will help the distribution system operate more effectively and efficiently. The upgrades included in this project represent the highest priorities identified in the District's Capital Efficiency Plan. The proposed project will not only correct the system's current operating deficiencies, but also help the towns improve their economic development opportunities.
- The Town of Lubec will receive a Water and Waste Direct Loan in the amount of $2,000,000 and Grant in the amount of $1,610,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to upgrade the existing wastewater treatment facility and four pump stations. These systems have reached well beyond their useful design life and now require these upgrades to prevent system malfunctions and environmental hazards. The pump stations improvements consist of replacing the pumps, new control panels, telemetry and rail retrieval systems. The wastewater treatment plant improvements consist of, but are not limited to, installing a properly ventilated and readily accessible headworks vault for safe access to the grinder ahead of the pumps, new influent grinder and bypass bar screen, new influent sampler, new chlorine pump, retrofit the Imoff tank internal components, overall general building repairs, upgrading the telemetry and alarm systems, and replacing process water pump and critical laboratory equipment.
- Kingfield Water District will receive a Water and Waste Direct Loan in the amount of $690,000 and Grant in the amount of $145,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to fund new infrastructure and a reconstruction project. The Kingfield Water District will replace 2,300 feet of main located along Route 27. The new cement-lined main will be corrosion resistant and will eliminate dirty water. The District will also upgrade its well pumping station. This project includes replacement and modernization of the water pumping system at the Kingfield pumping station.
- Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission, in Saco, will receive a Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Energy Audits and Renewable Energy Development Grant in the amount of $100,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to conduct approximately 15 energy audits for rural small businesses and agricultural producers throughout 39 municipalities. These audits will provide analysis to make energy-efficiency improvements to these operations.
- Autumn Lane, LLC, in Sebago, will receive a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $9,449. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 20.6 kW roof-mounted solar PV system. This project will replace 27,655 kWh (100 percent) of business energy usage and realize $2,815 of savings annually.
- Heiwa Tofu, in Rockport, will receive a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $8,822. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 20.15 kW roof-mounted solar PV system. This project will replace 21,200 kWh (37 percent) of business energy usage and realize $1,667 of savings annually.
- Sarah D. Lutte, Lazy Acres Farm, in Farmingdale, will receive a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $7,585. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 21.12 kW ground-mounted solar PV system. This project will replace 22,978 kWh (100 percent) of business energy usage and realize $1,814 of savings annually.
- Nettie Fox Farm, LLC, in Newburgh, will receive a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $3,045. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install an 8.0 kW roof-mounted solar PV system. This project will replace 9,333 kWh (100 percent) of business energy usage and realize $844 of savings annually.
- Voisine Bros, Inc., in New Canada, will receive a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $10,119. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install an 18.2 kW ground-mounted solar PV system. This project will replace 28,457 kWh (over 100%) of business energy usage and realize $4,173 of savings annually.
- Take Flight, LLC., in Kittery, will receive a Rural Energy for America Program Grant in the amount of $18,483. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 27.3 kW roof-mounted solar PV system. This project will replace 31,382 kWh (over 100%) of business energy usage and realize $2,842 of savings annually.
Highlights of today’s Nationwide announcement include investments in:
Rural Water and Wastewater Infrastructure:
USDA is investing $374 million through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in 31 states. Through its Water and Environmental Programs, USDA funds vital water infrastructure that directly benefits the health, economic vitality and environment of rural America.
Renewable Energy in Rural Communities:
USDA is investing $78 million in renewable energy infrastructure in 30 states through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). This program helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. Projects financed under this program can help to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas pollution that affects our climate.
Rural Electric Infrastructure Upgrades:
USDA is investing $17.4 million in loans in New Mexico and South Dakota through the Electric Loan Program to build and improve rural electric infrastructure and connect residents to affordable and dependable power. The Electric Loan Program brings efficient, modern electric infrastructure to rural communities and finances wind, solar, natural gas and clean energy production. The program also provides loans to electric utilities to support vegetation management, which helps prevent forest fires.
Biofuel Infrastructure:
USDA is investing $18.4 million in 20 states through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) to build infrastructure to help expand the availability of higher-blend renewable fuels by approximately 218 million gallons per year. This will give consumers more environmentally-friendly fuel choices when they fill-up at the pump.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/me. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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