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USDA Announces Seven Energy Savings Grants for Rural Business

Name
Samantha Evenson
City
Bismarck
Release Date

Ryan Taylor, USDA Rural Development state director, announced funding for seven projects in North Dakota to help rural businesses and agricultural producers reduce energy usage and costs in their operations. The funding is available through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and will be used to make energy efficiency improvements and install renewable energy systems.

“Saving money while saving energy is a win-win for these businesses and our environment,” said Taylor. “Energy conservation has real long-term benefits, but it requires strategic short-term investments. We are proud to be with business and producers to put this technology in place.”

Today’s announcement totals $126,000 in grants through REAP for projects such as: installing geothermal systems, updating lighting with a light-emitting diode (LED) system, and replacing old, inefficient grain dryers to deliver energy and cost savings while preserving higher yields.

Congress created the REAP program in the 2002 Farm Bill. Due to the program’s success, it was reauthorized in the 2014 Farm Bill. Under the program terms, up to 25 percent of an eligible energy production or conservation project can be funded by a grant.

Since 2009, the program has financed more than $2.4 million for 77 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in North Dakota. For more information, please visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/nd or call (701) 530-2037.