DES MOINES, Iowa, August 24, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced USDA is investing $805,213 in critical infrastructure to combat climate change across rural Iowa. The investments include $697,800 for eight projects funded by Community Facilities Disaster Grants and $107,143 for eight projects funded by Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to investing in rural Iowa,” said Director Greenfield. “With continued investments in essential services and expanding access to renewable energy infrastructure, these grants will strengthen first responder services and lower energy costs for agricultural producers.”
These investments reflect the goals of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which addresses immediate economic needs and includes the largest ever federal investment in clean energy for the future.
Background:
Today’s announcement is part of a larger national announcement detailing $121 million in critical infrastructure throughout rural America. The investments will help state and local government entities, and nonprofit organizations renovate or purchase and install equipment for essential community facilities for public use in rural areas. They also will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems.
The eight Rural Energy for America Program grants in Iowa are:
- Richard Birdsell is receiving $12, 912 to help install a 29 kW solar array. Richard Birdsell is a dairy producer in Allamakee County, near Postville, Iowa. This project will realize $4,755 per year in savings and will replace 31,474 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the dairy farm usage) per year.
- Rebecca Caspers is receiving $11,579 to install a 31 kW solar array. Rebecca Caspers is a grain farm operator in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. This project is expected to save $4813 per year. It will replace 31,659 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the farm business energy usage) per year.
- Red Lion Perry Solar LLC is receiving $8,921 to install solar arrays at several city locations. Red Lion Perry Solar LLC is a newly created business to generate energy in Perry, Dallas County, Iowa. This project is expected to generate $133,029 gross income from the sale of energy, and generate 998,607 kilowatt hours (kWh), which is enough energy to power 92 homes.
- James Nieman is receiving $14,001 to install a 40 kW solar array. James Nieman is the owner of a grain farm and trucking operation in Kanawha, Hancock County, Iowa. This project is expected to save $5,811 per year. It will replace 37,193 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the farm business energy usage) per year.
- William Mahr is receiving $7,087 to install a grain dryer. William Mahr is a livestock and grain producer in Howard County, near Lime Springs, Iowa. This project will realize $9,709 per year in savings and will save 232,829 kWh (62 percent) per year, which is enough electricity to power 21 homes.
- Kurt Rossiter is receiving $20,000 to purchase and install a 79-kW solar array. Kurt Rossiter operates a family-owned corn, soybean, and livestock farm in Louisa County. This project will realize $15,417 per year in savings and will generate and replace 119,518 kWh (115 percent) per year, which is enough electricity to power 11 homes.
- Hawkeye Ag LLP is receiving $20,000 to install a 57 kW solar array. Hawkeye AG LLP is a hog producer in Palo Alto County, near Mallard, Iowa. This project is expected to save $10,609 per year. It will replace 51,605 kilowatt hours (kWh), which is 100 percent of the farm's energy usage per year.
- JDSD Farms LLC is receiving $20,000 install a 132 kW solar array. JDSD Farms LLC is a lessor of real estate in Ainsworth, Washington County, Iowa. This project is expected to save $25,209 per year. It will replace 167,051 kilowatt hours (kWh) (97 percent of the business energy usage) per year, which is enough energy to power 15 homes.
The eight Community Facilities Disaster grants in Iowa are:
- Hazelton in Buchanan County is receiving $14,000 to purchase extrication equipment for the fire department.
- Lake City in Calhoun County is receiving $37,500 to help purchase a law enforcement vehicle and related equipment.
- The city of Anita in Cass County is receiving $500,000 to help resurface streets which are essential to supporting commerce and transportation needs.
- The city of Randolph in Fremont County is receiving $13,500 to assist with purchasing a generator for the community center and fire station. The generator will provide electricity during emergencies and severe weather events.
- The city of Arthur in Ida County is receiving $2,100 to purchase an early warning storm siren to alert people inside the city limits during emergency situations.
- The city of Albia in Monroe County is receiving $29,200 to help purchase a pickup truck and related equipment. The vehicle will facilitate the transportation of equipment and materials for maintaining street surfaces, street signage, street markings, and traffic control devices which will create safer transportation routes for commerce and daily activities for residents of the town and the surrounding rural areas.
Contact USDA Rural Development
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities and areas. Office locations include the state office in Des Moines, along with area offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas in Iowa, call (515) 284-4663 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
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.
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.
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