WASHINGTON, June 26, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is partnering with rural Americans on hundreds of clean energy projects to lower energy bills, expand access to clean energy and create jobs for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. Many of the projects are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the climate crisis. USDA also unveiled the “Rural Energy Resource Guide” to make it easier for rural communities to identify federal funding for clean energy, including programs made possible by President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act.
“The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are committed to expanding access to modern clean energy systems and fueling options that strengthen the nation’s energy independence while creating good-paying jobs and saving rural Americans money,” Secretary Vilsack said. “We are excited to partner with hundreds more family farms and small businesses as well as rural electric cooperatives and local clean energy developers to address the impacts of climate change, grow the economy and keep rural communities throughout the country strong and resilient.”
Background: REAP
The REAP program helps agricultural producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal, and small hydropower 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.
These investments will cut energy costs for family farms and other businesses, increasing their resiliency, and allowing them to invest back into their communities by creating new jobs and other opportunities. For example:
- Celley Roland Jr. will use a $99,965 grant to install a 92.2 kilowatt-hour solar array system. Roland operates a family farm growing small grains near Regan. This project will save the business $4,389 per year and generate 132,833 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power 12 homes.
- Karl Kenner will use a $90,725 grant to install a more efficient grain-drying system. Kenner operates a family farm growing small grains near Maddock. This project will save the business $2,599 per year and replace 37,468 kilowatt-hours (kWh) (38 percent), which is enough to power three homes.
- John Hatzenbuhler will use a $143,207 grant to install a more energy efficient grain drying system. Hatzenbuhler operates a family farm growing small grains near Mandan. The project will save $2,838 per year and replace 42,490 kilowatt-hours (kWh) (25 percent), which is enough to power four homes.
- Brick City Promoters LLC will use a $4,380 grant to install more energy efficient refrigeration equipment. Brick City Promoters LLC operates as a locally owned lessor of real estate and equipment to the community restaurant in Hebron. This project will save the business $1,295 per year and replace 14,317 kilowatt-hours (kWh) (88 percent) per year, which is enough electricity to power one home.
- Sarel Francois Du Plessis will use an $80,869 grant to install a geothermal heating and cooling system. The recipient raises small grains on a family farm near Devils Lake. The project annually will save $9,615 and replace 143,701 kilowatt-hours (kWh) (68 percent), enough energy to power 13 homes.
- C’s Three Corporation will use a $12,121 grant to install more energy efficient lighting. C’s Three Corporation operates as a family-owned furniture and flooring covering store in Oakes. This project will save the business $1,045 per year and replace 16,098 kilowatt-hours (kWh) (39 percent), which is enough electricity to power one home.
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, contact a local energy coordinator.
A complete list of all REAP projects can be found online.
Background: Rural Energy Resource Guide
Today, USDA also unveiled the “Rural Energy Resource Guide” which will make it easier for rural communities to identify federal funding for clean energy, including programs made possible by President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act.
The guide showcases USDA Rural Development programs that are helping individuals and organizations finance renewable energy systems and infrastructure across rural America. Programs featured in the guide offer funding to:
- Make energy-efficient home repairs.
- Finance small- or large-scale energy infrastructure.
- Fund energy efficiency equipment for business and industry.
- Generate emergency energy in rural areas.
- Produce clean energy from sources such as biobased materials.
The Rural Energy Resource Guide also includes stories from Rural Development customers on ways USDA programs and services have helped them meet their clean energy needs.
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. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the 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, 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.