Investments Will Make Rural Communities More Energy Independent and Resilient
TEMPLE, Texas, Dec., 08, 2021 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the Department is investing $5.6 million to reduce the impacts of climate change (PDF, 394 KB) on rural communities in Texas. With the enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and as part of the broader Build Back Better agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration has made investing in rural communities, creating good-paying jobs and combating the climate crisis top priorities.
“Rural America is on the front lines of climate change, and our communities deserve investments that will strengthen all of our resilience,” Vilsack said. “President Biden has created a roadmap for how we can tackle the climate crisis and expand access to renewable energy infrastructure, all while creating good-paying jobs and saving people money on their energy costs. With the Build Back Better agenda, USDA will be able to fund more and more critical projects like those announced today in the coming months and years.”
Background:
Vilsack highlighted 791 investments that USDA is making in five programs specifically designed to help people and businesses in rural areas. These programs include Community Facilities Disaster Grants, Electric Loan Program, Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), Rural Energy Savings Program, and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.
The funding will help people in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. It reflects the many ways USDA Rural Development helps rural residents, businesses and communities address economic development, infrastructure and social service needs.
These investments will help build and improve rural electric infrastructure and connect residents to affordable and dependable power. They will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. They will also help transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities offer higher ethanol and biodiesel blends to customers by sharing the costs to install fuel pumps, equipment and infrastructure.
Projects in Texas include:
Lone Star Solar Comanche LLC will use a $1,290,000 Electric loan to build a ground-mounted, single-axis tracking solar photovoltaic (PV) farm in Comanche County, Texas.
FC Jerseys Energy LLC, in Dalhart will use a $249,000 REAP grant to install an anaerobic digestor which will produce 14,966,295 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually, enough to power 1,381 homes, worth approximately $2.5 million.
St. Mina Management Inc, in Sandia will receive a $206,771 REAP grant to install a solar array that will produce 707,980 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually which is enough to power 65 homes, worth approximately $58,000.
Sue Best Farm in Jefferson will use a $19,385 REAP grant to install poultry house retrofits which will save 326,943 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually, enough to power 30 homes, worth approximately $15,500.
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. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to 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.