U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Rural Development State Director Bob Morgan joined Rep. Matt Cartwright to highlight clean energy projects in the 8th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. The district includes Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike counties and portions of Luzerne and Monroe counties.
The announcement included nine Rural Energy for America or REAP projects that were funded since 2021. The projects include several industries from across the region totaling $695,505 of which 75 percent were funded through the Inflation Reduction Act.
“These projects reached retail, health care, real estate, food services, arts, entertainment, and manufacturing operations throughout northeast Pennsylvania,” Morgan said. “We will continue to reach out and serve this area of the Commonwealth and look forward to doing so.”
The event was held at Lukan’s Farm Resort in Wayne County. In 2024, the farm received a REAP grant of $122,760 through the Inflation Reduction Act to help the family-owned resort located in the Pocono Mountains between the towns of Hawley and Honesdale, Pennsylvania, purchase and install a 155 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. This project is expected to save the resort approximately $23,600 per year. It will replace 163,360 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 15 homes.
John Hochreither, co-owner of the resort and farm, appreciated the grant from the USDA.
“It truly is what made the project financially feasible for us,” he said. He also thanked local partners such as the Sustainable Energy Education, Development and Support organization or SEEDS as well as the solar installers, Buselli Solutions of Beach Lake, Pa., for supporting him through the entire project. He recognized many political partners in the audience as well.
“The economic reality for small businesses in rural towns is challenging, and more than ever, businesses need to drive down costs in real time,” said Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-08), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “With today’s announcement, small and family-owned businesses throughout Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District will be able to offset energy bills with efficiency measures and renewable energy projects and, as a result, generate extra revenue.”
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. The additional eight projects in the congressional district include:
- Garden Drive-in Inc. received a grant of $16,595 to purchase and replace the xenon bulb in its movie projector with a more energy-efficient laser light upgrade kit. The outdoor drive-in movie theater, located in Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania, has been operating since 1952. This project is expected to save the business approximately $1,500 per year and will decrease its energy consumption by 22 percent.
- RKKB Capital Partners Corp. received a grant of $145,250 to purchase and install a 191-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system to be installed on Retro Fitness Center, a business it operates in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. This project is expected to save the business approximately $31,800 per year and will replace 227,578 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 21 homes.
- Silver Birches LLC received a grant of $28,750 to replace its ventilation and cooling system (HVAC) with a more energy-efficient HVAC system. Silver Birches, located in Hawley, Pennsylvania, is a lakeside resort offering lodging, dining options, event venues, and various recreational activities. This project is expected to save the resort approximately $18,100 per year and will decrease its energy consumption by 24 percent.
- Camp Wayne for Boys Inc. received a grant of $211,248 to purchase and install a 207.4 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. Camp Wayne for Boys Inc. has been providing a stay-over camp for boys since 1921. This project is expected to save the campground approximately $30,000 per year and will replace 216,208 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 19 homes.
- Neet Center Associates LLC received a grant of $35,642 to purchase and replace all the lighting throughout its entire 95,000 square foot mixed-use office building with more energy-efficient LED lighting. This project is expected to save the business $12,864 per year and will decrease its energy consumption by 66 percent.
- Nexus 1 LLC received a grant to fund the LED facility lighting upgrade project for NEXUS 1 LLC which will replace all outdated incandescent lighting through the offices and factory with state-of-the-art, energy-efficient LED lighting equipment. NEXUS 1 LLC manufactures high-performance buildings and retrofit products that are cost-efficient, use less energy, and are resilient in the face of climate change. These energy-efficient improvements are expected to save approximately 58 percent of the company's projected energy usage.
- Harmony Mountain Institute for Living LLC received a $59,350 grant to purchase and install a 164-kilowatt (kW) ground-mount solar photovoltaic system. The solar array will be installed in an open area on the maintained grounds of the property, which operates as a retreat center for wellness and rejuvenation. This project is expected to save $24,326 per year. It will replace 209,577 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 19 homes.
- Preston Country Market LLC received a $7,010 grant to assist in making energy efficiency improvements to the walk-in freezer and cooler at its convenience store. Preston County Market is a small locally owned one-stop shop, selling gas to groceries. These upgrades are expected to save the business approximately $900 (50 percent of its current energy costs) per year.
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.
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