Temple, TX, July 26, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Acting State Director Daniel Torres today announced that USDA is investing over $7 million across several Texas counties.
Through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Rural Energy for America Technical Assistance Grant Program, USDA is investing a total of $163 million in loans, grants and technical assistance that will support 338 clean energy projects in 39 States and Guam. Many of the projects are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the climate crisis.
“With REAP funding, rural businesses like Opti-Blast and TrueHarvest Farm will be able to install energy efficient equipment that will help lower energy costs and strengthen their future operations,” Torres said. “USDA is committed to the long-term success and overall prosperity of rural Texas.”
Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has invested more than $2.2 billion through REAP in 7,566 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. The program has lowered small business and farm energy bills by an average of $25,000 a year and provided enough electricity to power more than 630,000 homes over the course of a year.
Example awards in Texas:
- TrueHarvest Farms LLC- a hydroponic leafy green farm located in Belton, Bell County, Texas will use a $849,911 grant to purchase and install a 616-kilowatt (kW) direct current (DC) solar photovoltaic (PV) array. The farm has been in business since 2017, with products sold in markets in nine states. The system will generate enough energy to power 95 homes and will save the business $64,514 annually.
- Opti-Blast - manufactures and supplies plastic blast media to commercial and military customers around the world. The company will use a $755,312 grant to purchase and install a 392.27-kilowatt (kW) direct contact (DC) solar photovoltaic (PV) array. Opti-Blast is in Cherokee County, Texas, in Jacksonville and has been in business for over 25 years. The system will generate enough energy to power 47 homes and save the business $31,980 annually.
A complete list of all REAP projects can be found online. USDA continues to accept REAP applications and has set aside a portion of the program funds to support underutilized renewable energy technologies, like wind and geothermal power. For additional information, contact a local energy coordinator.
Today’s announcement is part of a national announcement made by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack.
USDA 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. REAP is a part of the President’s Justice40 initiative which sets a goal that 40% of the benefits from certain federal investments go to disadvantaged communities. The program 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. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under 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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