Projects Funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act Strengthen American Farms and Rural Small Businesses
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for Rural Development Bob Morgan announced today four additional projects being funded through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for a total of $1.4 million.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is partnering with people in rural communities across our Commonwealth to expand access to clean energy and save rural Americans money,” Morgan said. “We are hard at work, continuing what we've always done, supporting rural small businesses and farmers as they create jobs for their communities and drive economic prosperity.”
Here are the projects being announced today in Pennsylvania:
In Cambria County, Saint Francis University will use a REAP Renewable and Energy Audit Program grant of $100,000 to conduct 26 renewable energy assessments for rural small businesses and agricultural producers throughout Pennsylvania. These on-site assessments will provide analysis to install renewable energy systems aimed at reducing overall energy costs. This program strengthens American energy independence by increasing the private sector supply of renewable energy and decreasing the demand for energy through energy efficiency improvements.
In Northampton County, Northampton County Area Community College will use a REAP Technical Assistance grant of $449,990 to provide technical assistance for stakeholders interested in REAP Energy Efficiency Improvement opportunities for rural small businesses and agricultural producers throughout the State of Pennsylvania. Northampton County Area Community College (NCC) will provide technical assistance as well as energy audits and assessments to applicants interested in applying for REAP funds. NCC will target projects requesting $20,000 or less in grant funds, projects located in distressed or disadvantaged communities and projects with agricultural producers.
In Juniata County, Reinford Farms Inc., a dairy farm and trucking operation located in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, will use a REAP grant of $712,572 to purchase and install a replacement motor upgrade for its anaerobic digester. Reinford Farms has been operating since 1991. The project is estimated to generate 3,705,000 kilowatt hours (kwh) per year, which is enough energy to power 341 homes.
In York County, Miller-Redding Partnership dba Mr. Storage will use a REAP grant of $132,500 to purchase and install a 104.7-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system. Mr. Storage, a 102-unit storage facility located in Hanover, Pennsylvania has been operating since 2019. This project is expected to generate 129,191 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, which is enough energy to power 11 homes.
In 2024, USDA Rural Development has invested in 119 projects for a total of $19 million. Since 2021, RD has invested $44 million in 366 projects across the Commonwealth through the REAP program. Many of the projects are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the climate crisis. The projects also advance President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle out and the bottom up.
You can read the USDA national program announcement made today here.
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