The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that 639 individuals and businesses in 43 states and the Virgin Islands have been selected to receive $35 million in grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy systems or to improve energy efficiency in farm and business operations.
The grants and loan guarantees are being awarded through USDA Rural
Development’s Section 9006 Renewable Energy Systems and Energy
Efficiency Improvements program. The program provides financial
assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to
support renewable energy projects across a wide range of technologies
encompassing biomass (including anaerobic digesters), geothermal,
hydrogen, solar and wind energy.
The program also provides support for energy
efficiency improvements, helping recipients reduce energy consumption
and improve operations. Of the $35 million announced, $27.5
million are grants and $7.4 million are guaranteed loans.
The funding will support a variety of energy-production and energy-saving efforts. For example, Chad Brandt of Oakes, N.D.; has been selected to receive a $67,374 combination grant and loan to replace his existing grain dryer with a new, more energy-efficient model that is expected to lower energy costs by more than 20%.
In Monona, Iowa, D.J. Keehner Farms, Inc. will receive a $11,561 grant to replace a propane heating system with a more energy-efficient geothermal heating system, which is expected to reduce energy costs by 78%.
A & L Lawson Partnership, in Carencro, La., has been selected for a $14,980 grant to purchase and install energy-efficient electric motors to replace and power a diesel irrigation well. The project is expected to reduce energy consumption by 48%.
For a complete list of recipients go to the USDA website.
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