United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Friday announced investments totaling $890,000 to help 16 rural Kentucky businesses improve their energy efficiency.
As part of the 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.”
Alfred Corbin III will use a $20,000 grant to purchase and install a 30-foot Shivvers Circulator II grain dryer. This project will realize $1,586.26 per year in savings and will save 11,807 kilowatt hours per year.
ALR Farms LLC will use a $33,250 grant to purchase and install a GH 1616 grain dryer. This project will realize $8,187 per year in savings and will save 298,105 kilowatt hours per year.
American Wood Fibers Inc. will use a $250,000 grant to purchase and install a wood shavings dryer. This project will realize $413,782 per year in savings and will save 11,259,677 kilowatt per year.
Brandon C. Shocklee will use a $49,324 grant to purchase and install a 92-kilowatt solar power system. This project will realize $19,305 per year in savings and will replace 173,241 kilowatt hours.
Clark Jewelers Inc. will use a $8,875 grant for the purchase and installation of a 15.6-kilowatt solar power system. This project will realize $2,106 per year in energy generation and will replace 18,059 kilowatt hours.
Darrell L. Hatfield will use a $43,615 grant to make energy improvements to eight poultry barns. This project will realize $10,524.11 per year in savings and will save 616,424 kilowatt hours per year.
Hudson Grain Company will use a $39,830 grant to purchase and install a GSI 2326 Grain Dryer. This project will realize $46,021 per year in savings and will save 334,120 kilowatt hours per year.
Jodie King will use a $50,000 grant for the purchase and installation of a 111-kilowatt solar power system. This project will realize $17,922 per year in savings and will replace 154,136 kilowatt hours.
KBW Investment Properties LLC will use a $19,961 grant for the purchase and installation of a 20.6-kilowatt solar power system. This project will realize $2,678 per year in energy generation and will replace 27,608 kilowatt hours.
MSJ Realty Inc. will use a $12,622 grant to purchase and install LED lighting. This project will realize $1,767.24 per year in savings and will save 17,158 kilowatt hours per year.
Pumpkin Vine Creek LLC will use a $15,343 grant for the purchase and installation of a 22.05-kilowatt solar power system. This project will realize $2,497 per year in energy generation and will replace 29,387 kilowatt hours.
Robert M. Gray will use a $25,500 grant to purchase and install a Shivvers 36-foot Circulator II Grain Drying system. This project will realize $8,633.69 per year in savings and will save 108,871 kilowatt hours per year.
Swope Enterprises LLC will use a $191,500 grant for the purchase and installation of a 340.6-kilowatt solar power system. This project will realize $35,731 per year in energy generation and will replace 384,854 kilowatt hours.
Swope Hyundai LLC will use a $54,378 grant for the purchase and installation of a 158-kilowatt solar power system and roof mounted net meter. This project will realize $12,658 per year in energy generation and will replace 214,536 kilowatt hours.
Swope Motors Inc. will use a $40,000 grant for the purchase and installation of a 158-kilowatt solar power system. This project will realize $19,675.33 per year in energy generation and will replace 178,837 kilowatt hours.
William M. Kuegel will use a $35,802 grant for the purchase and installation of a 56.16-kilowatt solar power system. This project will realize $8,113 per year in energy generation and will replace 72,936 kilowatt hours.
The department made these 16 investments through the Rural Energy for America Program, which provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, 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.
The Department of Agriculture 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, 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.