Funding supports solar and other renewable energy projects to create jobs and promote energy independence in Maine
USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel was in Caribou today to speak to agricultural producers. During her remarks, she announced that 7 Maine farms, and agricultural businesses, including Irving Farms, Inc., would receive grants for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The grants total an investment of $66,190 in Maine’s rural communities.
USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel said, “I am pleased USDA Rural Development can help these seven Maine businesses, two of which are in Aroostook County, to make investments in renewable energy and energy efficient systems at their facilities. These systems will help the businesses to be sustainable now and in the future, retaining critical jobs in Maine’s rural communities.”
USDA Rural Development is investing a total of $66,190 in 7 rural businesses through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP):
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Irving Farms, Inc. located in Caribou, has been selected to receive $2,656 to upgrade two existing potato storage ventilation fans with new motors, adjustable frequency drives, and control software to remove heat from the storage areas, promoting better product quality. This project is projecting to save 14,082 kWh of energy annually or enough electricity to power one home.
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G&S Farms, Inc. located in Fort Kent, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $2,743 to upgrade two existing potato storage ventilation fans with new motors, adjustable frequency drives, and control software to remove heat from the storage areas, promoting better product quality. Additionally, existing incandescent lighting will be replaced with new LED fixtures. The proposed project is estimated to reduce energy usage by 15,319 kWh annually or enough electricity to power one home.
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Bountiful Berry, Inc. d/b/a Grandy Oats, in Hiram, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $20,000 to install a new 80.64 kW solar PV system. Grandy Oats produces 1.2 million pounds of granola, trail mix and roasted nuts annually. The proposed system is projecting to generate 95,662 kWh of electricity per year, or enough electricity to power eight homes.
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Kremer Glass, LLC, located in North Yarmouth, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $7,723 to install a new 19.04 kW solar PV system to a newly constructed building to be used as a glass production studio. The proposed system is projecting to generate 20,559 kWh of electricity per year, or enough electricity to power one home.
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MDI Clean Energy Partners, L3C, located in Bar Harbor, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $3,601 to install a new 6.24 kW solar PV array on a tractor parking canopy structure at the Peggy Rockefeller Farms and is projected to generate 7,800 kWh annually.
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Mount Pleasant Dental Care, P.A., located in Rockport, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $9,573 to install a new 12.50 kW roof-mounted solar PV array to this dental office. The proposed system is projecting to generate 14,825 kWh annually or, enough electricity to power the equivalent of one home.
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Belcon, Inc., located in Belfast, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $19,894 to install a new 26kW solar PV roof-mounted system array to Colonial Gables Oceanfront Village and replace over 26% of their annual electricity usage. The proposed project projects to generate 33,486 kWh of electricity per year, or enough electricity to power the equivalent of three homes.
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for future REAP funding. For application deadlines and details on how to apply, contact Brian Wilson at 990-9168 or at brian.wilson@me.usda.gov or Cheryl Pelletier at 764-4157 ext. 4 or cheryl.pelletier@me.usda.gov.
Since the start of the Obama Administration, REAP has helped finance 10,753 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that have reduced energy costs for rural businesses nationwide. During this period, USDA has provided almost $360 million in grants and $430 million in loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small business owners. When operational, these projects will generate/save an estimated 8.4 million megawatt hours – enough to power more than 760,000 homes for a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. That’s the equivalent of removing more than 1 million cars from the road.
Funding of announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement.
USDA Rural Development has Area Offices located in Presque Isle, Bangor, Lewiston, and Scarborough, as well as a State Office, located in Bangor. There are 57 employees working to deliver the agency’s Housing, Business, and Community Programs, which are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, and farmers, and improve the quality of life in rural Maine. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development's web site at http://www.rd.usda.gov/me.