Projects Will Lower Energy Costs for Six MA Businesses
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Department is investing $464 million to build or improve renewable energy infrastructure and to help rural communities, agricultural producers and businesses lower energy costs in 48 states and Puerto Rico. In Massachusetts, six businesses will receive a total of $82,832 in grant funding.
“USDA continues to prioritize climate-smart infrastructure to help rural America build back better, stronger and more equitably than ever before,” Vilsack said. “We recognize that lowering energy costs for small businesses and agricultural producers helps to expand economic development and employment opportunities for people in America’s rural towns and communities. The investments we are announcing today demonstrate how the Biden-Harris Administration has put rural communities at the heart of climate action and climate-smart solutions.”
USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Liz Gariepy said, “I am pleased that USDA Rural Development can assist six rural Massachusetts businesses to install renewable energy systems and make energy efficient improvements to their operations. Through these actions, rural businesses can lower energy costs and help create a cleaner environment for rural Massachusetts.”
USDA is financing $129 million of these investments through the Rural Energy for America Program. This program provides funding to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. These climate-smart investments will conserve and generate more than 379 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) in rural America, which equates to enough electricity to power 35,677 homes per year.
USDA is financing $335 million of these investments through the Electric Loan Program. The loans will help build or improve 1,432 miles of line to strengthen reliability in rural areas. The loans include $102 million for investments in smart grid technology, which uses digital communications to detect and react to local changes in electricity usage.
In Massachusetts, six businesses and agricultural producers have been selected to receive REAP Grants for a total of $82,832:
REAP Grant Recipients:
• Mount Williams Greenhouses, Inc located in North Adams, has received a grant in the amount of $11,113. This Rural Development investment will be used to make energy efficiency improvements with the purchase and installation of six new high efficiency unit heaters in existing greenhouses. Mount Williams Greenhouses grows plants to sell in a retail flower shop. This project will realize $2,395 per year in savings and will replace 77,139 kWh (21%) per year, which is enough electricity to power 7 homes.
• Burnshirt Hills LLC, located in Hubbardston, has received a grant in the amount of $15,425. This Rural Development investment will be used for the purchase and installation of an 18.9 kW Roof-Mounted solar array on the small equine farm of Burnshirt Hills. This project will replace 22,743 kWh per year and realize $5,950 of saving per year. Burnshirt Hills is a small horse farm located in Hubbardston MA.
• We Grow Microgreens, LLC, located in Hyde Park, has received a grant in the amount of $15,343. This Rural Development investment will be used to make energy efficiency improvements with the purchase and installation of 20 shade curtains and solar powered motors. We Grow Microgreens is an existing business that grows microgreens, edible flowers and plants. This project will realize $777 per year in savings, and will replace 720 therms of natural gas per year. We Grow Microgreens is a small urban farm growing microgreens, edible flowers and plants in Hyde Park.
• Red Apple Farm, in Phillipston, has received a grant in the amount of $20,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to make energy efficiency improvements with installation of a complete solar hot water system to provide pre-heat to the new Geothermal system and direct hot water. Red Apple Farm is 4th generation diversified direct-marketing farm operation. This project will realize $490 per year in savings and will replace 2,765 kWh per year. Red Apple Farm is a fourth-generation family farm located in Phillipston, MA.
• Medway Community Farm, Inc, in Medway, has received a grant in the amount of $10,584. This Rural Development investment will be used for the purchase and installation of a 22.1 kW ground mounted solar array on Medway Community Farm. This project will replace 25,882 kWh (106%) per year and realize $5,694 of saving per year. Medway Community Farm is a 501(c)3 organization growing food for, connecting with, and educating the community about healthy and sustainable local gardening and farming.
• Sweet Morning Farm LLC, in Leyden, has received a grant in the amount of $10,367. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 8.16 kilowatt Tracker Ground-Mounted solar array on the no-till permanent bed farm of Sweet Morning Farm. This project will replace 12,000 kilowatt hours (74 percent) per year and realize $2,400 of savings per year.
For more information on the REAP Program, contact Jonathan Burns, Renewable Energy Coordinator, at (508) 295-5151 x 7238 or jonathan.burns@usda.gov.
The Department is announcing investments today in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming and Puerto Rico.
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.
USDA 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, 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.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.