Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for 821 projects across the nation that will help rural small businesses and agricultural producers reduce energy usage and costs in their operations. The funding is available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and will be used to make energy efficiency improvements and install renewable energy systems.
“Since 2009, the Rural Energy for America Program has helped roughly 15,000 small businesses and farm save enough energy to power about 730,000 homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than five million metric tons annually,” Vilsack said. “These investments in clean energy are good for the environment, are good for each business’s bottom line and they support the broader rural economy by encouraging the production of renewable energy sources.”
USDA is providing $43.2 million in loan guarantees and $11.6 million in grants through REAP for projects in every state, and Puerto Rico. Funding of each award announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the term of the loan or grant agreement.
José Otero-García, USDA Rural Development State Director for Puerto Rico indicated that eleven projects were selected to receive a grant to either make energy efficiency improvements to their lighting system and/or to purchase and install a solar renewable energy system.
From 2009 to date, REAP has helped finance more than 11,000 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that have reduce energy costs for roughly 15,000 rural businesses. During this period, USDA has provided more than $373 million in grants and almost $481 million in loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small business owners.
For additional information, please, contact Danna Quiles, Business & Cooperative Program Director at Puerto Rico State Office at (787) 766-5355, 766-5363, 766-5379 or 766-5412 or visit our web www.rd.usda.gov/pr .