The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $627,000 to make renewable energy improvements for rural small businesses and agricultural producers across the state of Utah.
“Energy consumption is a tremendous cost that comes with operating a business or running a farm or ranch and today’s investments will help reduce those costs, allowing the money saved to be put right back into operations and jobs,” said Randy Parker, Utah State Director for USDA Rural Development. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Utah in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Fourteen recipients will use grant funding to help purchase and install solar arrays which will capture enough energy to replace all or part of the business or production’s energy consumption. Eight of the 14 total awards made today are located in Cache County, Utah. These projects are funded through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The projected energy to be replaced by these solar investments is enough electricity to power more than 200 average homes for a year. See a complete listing of today’s investments.
For example, Cache Valley Counter Tops in Logan, Utah, is a family-owned business offering custom countertop and cabinet work. This business will use a $20,000 grant to install a 36kW solar array, estimated to replace 100% of their energy consumption per year.
Yardley’s in Milford, Utah, is a family-owned hay and cattle operation receiving $250,000 to install a 536kW solar array, estimated to replace 945,180 kWh of energy or enough to power 86 homes.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs 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 areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/ut.