WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2021 –Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $129 million to build or improve renewable energy infrastructure to help agricultural producers and rural businesses lower energy costs in 48 states and Puerto Rico. These climate-smart investments will conserve and generate more than 379 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) in rural America, which equates to enough electricity to power 35,677 homes per year.
“USDA continues to prioritize climate-smart infrastructure to help rural America build back better, stronger and more equitably than ever before,” Maxson said. “We recognize that lowering energy costs for small businesses and agricultural producers helps to expand economic development and employment opportunities for people in America’s rural towns and communities. 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 is financing the projects through the Rural Energy for America Program. This program provides funding to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. The investments will help reduce the amount of greenhouse gas pollution that affects our climate.
Examples of projects funded in Mississippi include:
- Gulf Coast Solar LLC will use a $500,000 grant to make energy efficiency improvements at three wastewater treatment facilities in Hancock County. Funds will be used to design, build and install fixed-tilt, ground-mount solar photovoltaic equipment. The equipment will help replace 103 percent of electricity at the North location; 57 percent of electricity at the South location; and 107 percent of electricity at the West location. The project will save the company $202,549 in energy costs and generate 2,147,368 kilowatt hours of electricity annually.
- The Silent Shade Planting Company in Belzoni, Mississippi will use $64,282 to help install a G2418 grain dryer, which is used in the process of drying grain to prevent spoilage during storage. This project will save 128,889 kilowatt hours of electricity and 1,483 cubic feet (CCF-100 cubic feet) of natural gas valued at $21,453.81, which is a 58.6 per cent reduction in energy consumption for the 12-month period prior to grant application.
- Front Porch Fish Farm, LLC will use $15,209 to make energy efficiency improvements on their catfish farm located in Prairie, Mississippi. These improvements include installation of oxygen monitoring systems and computer controllers for pond aeration systems on 10 catfish production ponds resulting in significant annual energy savings. This will net projected annual energy savings of 72,000 kilowatt hours of electricity and 405 gallons of diesel valued at $8,372, which is a 39.24 per cent reduction from energy consumption of the 12-month period prior to grant application.
To learn more about these and other resources for rural areas, contact a USDA Rural Development state office.
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. 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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