U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

USDA Invests in Clean Energy Projects to Strengthen Washington Farms and Businesses as part of Investing in America Agenda

Name
Philip Eggman
Email
philip.eggman@usda.gov
Phone
360-470-9900
City
Olympia
Release Date

Projects Will Lower Costs and Create Revenue for Rural Business Owners and Farms

Olympia, Jan. 22, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today is investing $744,365 in seven renewable energy projects to lower energy bills, generate new income, create jobs, and strengthen competition for Washington small businesses and farms.

“The Biden-Harris administration is wisely investing in the rural people of Washington state because they put their ingenuity and hard work into strengthening our rural communities," said Helen Price Johnson, State Director for USDA Rural Development in Washington State. "Powering small rural businesses with modern, renewable energy infrastructure creates good-paying jobs and supports opportunities for people, driving economic prosperity and security, which is good news for both the economy and the environment."

Today’s announcement was made by Secretary Tom Vilsack at the 105th annual American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. This funding advances President Biden’s Investing in America and Bidenomics agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle-out and bottom up, create jobs and spur economic growth in rural communities by increasing competition in agricultural markets, lowering costs and expanding clean energy.

“President Biden and USDA are ensuring farmers, ranchers and small businesses are not only a part of the clean energy economy, but directly benefitting from it,” Secretary Vilsack said. “The investments announced will expand access to renewable energy infrastructure and increase domestic fertilizer production, all while creating good-paying jobs and saving people money on their energy costs that they can then invest back into their businesses and communities.”

Today, USDA is awarding $157 million for 675 projects in 42 states including the seven projects in Washington through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which helps cut energy costs for farmers and ag producers that can instead be used to create jobs and new revenue streams for people in their communities. For example:

  • Western Wahkiakum County Telephone Company will receive a $214,926 grant to purchase and install a 102 kilowatt (kW) solar array, saving $8,627.23 per year in savings and replacing or generating 114,100 kilowatt hours (kWh) (97.30 percent energy savings) per year which is enough to power 10.65 homes.
  • AACC-BAC LLC, an auction house in rural Franklin County, will receive a $78,120 grant to purchase and install a 50.4 kilowatt (kW) solar array. This project will save the company $4,361 annually and replace 66,310 kilowatt hours (kWh) (98 percent energy savings) per year which is enough to power six homes.
  • Lopez Garage LLC, an existing business on Lopez Island in rural San Juan County, will receive a $37,753 grant to purchase and install a 36,562 kilowatt (kW) solar system, saving $3,121.87 annually and replacing 65,722.9 kilowatt hours (kWh) (44 percent energy savings) per year.
  • Tanke Joint Venture, a wheat farm in rural Lincoln County, will receive a $23,650 grant to purchase and install a 15.3 kilowatt (kW) solar array. This project will save the business $1,429 per year and replace or generate 20,419 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year which is enough to power three homes.
  • Lil' Scoop Bobcat Inc., a freight hauling business based out of Bellingham in rural Whatcom County, will receive a $21,757 grant to purchase and install a 14.04 kilowatt (kW) solar array. This project will realize $1,285.91 per year in savings and will replace or generate 11,340 kilowatt hours (kWh) (93 percent energy savings) per year which is enough to power 1.06 homes.
  • Spring Time Farm LLC, will receive a $27,509 grant to purchase and install a 19.44 kilowatt hour (kWh) solar array. Spring Time Farm, a Certified Organic vegetables and flowers farm in Everson, Whatcom County, will realize $2,207 per year in savings and will replace 19,449 kilowatt hours (kWh) (107 percent energy savings) per year which is enough to power two homes.
  • J&J Golf LLC, an existing business that runs Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla County, will receive a $340,650 grant to purchase and install a 329-kWh solar array. This project will realize $22,990 per year in savings and will replace 371,714 kilowatt hours (kWh) (89 percent energy savings) per year which is enough to power 31 homes.

Background

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides grants and loans to help ag producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar and other forms of clean energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses, address climate change and lower energy costs for American families. 

USDA continues to accept REAP applications and will hold funding competitions quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024. The funding includes a dedicated portion for underutilized renewable energy technologies. For additional information on application deadlines and submission details, see page 19239 of the March 31 Federal Register.

To learn more about USDA Rural Development programs, visit www.usda.gov/wa.