On July 26, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA is partnering with farmers and small businesses to expand access to clean energy and lower energy bills through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Rural Energy for America Technical Assistance Grant Program.

USDA is investing $163 million in loans, grants and technical assistance that will support 338 clean energy projects in 39 States and Guam.

The projects include four projects in Pennsylvania--

-- Saint Francis University - $100,000: This Rural Development investment will be used to help Saint Francis University in Cambria County 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.

-- Northampton County Area Community College - $499,990: This Rural Development investment will be used 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 will provide technical assistance as well as energy audits/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.

-- Reinford Farms Inc. - 712,572: This Rural Development investment will be used to help Reinford Farms, a dairy farm and trucking operation located in Mifflintown, Juniata County, 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.

-- Miller-Redding Partnership dba Mr. Storage - $132,500: This Rural Development investment will be used to help Miller-Redding Partnership dba Mr. Storage purchase and install a 104.7-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system.

Mr. Storage, a 102-unit storage facility located in Hanover, York County 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.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Visit the USDA  Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Rural Energy for America Technical Assistance Grant Program webpages to learn more about these programs and to apply.

Resource Links:

-- USDA Awards Funding For 55 PA Farm, Small Business Clean Energy Projects

-- USDA Funds 31 Local Projects Totaling $5.69 Million To Lower Energy Costs, Generate New Income For PA Farmers, Rural Small Businesses

-- USDA Rural Development Invests $5.8 Million In 37 Clean Energy Projects In Pennsylvania

-- USDA Rural Energy For America Success Story: Franklin County Dairy Farmer Harvesting Benefits Of Solar Energy

[Posted: July 28, 2024]

8/5/2024