Projects Will Lower Costs and Create Revenue for Nearly 30 Rural Business Owners and Farms
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 25, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Jonathan McCracken today announced that the Department is investing more than $3.3 million in renewable energy projects to lower energy bills, generate new income, create jobs, and strengthen competition for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers.
“Today’s investment ensures that Ohio farms and small businesses are at the forefront of the clean energy economy,” McCracken said. “The Rural Energy for America Program will help farmers lower energy costs, increase profitability, and create good paying jobs across the state. Ohio Rural Development has seen unprecedented demand for this program and encourages eligible entities to take advantage of this ongoing opportunity.”
The investments being announced today are funded through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). These investments will cut energy costs for farmers and ag producers that can instead be used to create jobs and new revenue streams for people in their communities. For example:
- J&K Swine Farm in Ansonia is using a grant for $105,000 to install a solar array for their swine production operation. The producer is expected to save $15,000 per year in electrical costs. The solar array is expected to replace 132,000 kilowatt hours or 98 percent of the producer’s energy use per year, which is enough energy to power 13 homes.
- The Mimi Land Company LLC is using a $500,000 grant to purchase and install energy efficient LED lighting at Dave Loewen’s farming facilities. The new lighting is expected to save the farm $186,000 in electrical costs per year. These funds can then be reinvested to grow the business or create new job opportunities. The new lighting will also save the farm 4,100 Megawatt hours of electricity per year, which is enough energy to power 380 homes.
- A farm in Wauseon will use a $27,500 grant to install an energy efficient air compressors that will save $7,800 per year. It will also save the farm 97,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, which is enough energy to power eight homes.
- Gerken Materials Inc will use a $332,000 grant to install a 400-kilowatt solar array that will save $125,000 in electrical costs per year. This will also save the business 521,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, which is enough energy to power 48 homes.
Today’s announcement is in coordination with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s recent statement that USDA is awarding $157 million for 675 rural businesses and ag producers in 42 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
Since 2020, USDA has invested more than $1.6 billion through REAP in 5,457 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements that will help rural business owners’ lower energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen their resiliency of operations. This investment includes $13.2 million for more than 200 rural business owners and ag producers in Ohio.
Background
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides grants and loans to help ag producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar and other forms of clean energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses, address climate change and lower energy costs for American families.
USDA continues to accept REAP applications and will hold funding competitions quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024. The funding includes a dedicated portion for underutilized renewable energy technologies. For additional information on application deadlines and submission details, see page 19239 of the March 31 Federal Register.
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. 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.
Contact USDA Rural Development in Ohio
Information on programs available through USDA Rural Development is available by visiting www.rd.usda.gov/oh or by following @Ohio_RD on X.
REAP website URL: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/energy-programs/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency-improvement-guaranteed-loans/oh
###