CHAMPAIGN, IL, Oct. 3, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) IL State Director Pam Monetti announced today that 16 IL farmers and small businesses received investments to access clean energy and lower energy bills through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
“Investing in sustainable energy empowers our farmers and rural businesses by reducing energy costs and making it more affordable” says Monetti. “REAP is helping ensure clean energy is accessible to rural farmers and businesses, paving the way for a sustainable future. It’s just as important we invest in renewable energy sources for farmers and rural communities as urban areas and I’m excited to see so many REAP grants coming to IL farmers and businesses.”
REAP enables agricultural producers and rural small business owners to expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses and address climate change while lowering energy costs for American families.
Here are a few of the awards being announced today:
- St Joseph, IL: Douglas Bluhm’s grain farm received an $18K investment to purchase and install a 14kW solar array that will save their operation more than $1,300 per year in energy costs.
- Atlanta, IL: Joel Farms Inc received a $114K investment to purchase and install a more energy-efficient grain dryer. This project will bring the farming operation more than $40K per year in savings and replace 677K kWh per year, which is enough energy to power 62 homes.
- Sycamore, IL: E K Kuhn Inc is a sign manufacturing business who received a $20K investment to purchase and install a 31kW solar array. This solar array will save the business more than $6K per year in energy costs and replace 34,437 kWh, which is enough energy to power 3 homes.
- St Francisville, IL: DAC Farms received a $20K investment to purchase and install a 14kW solar array for their grain operation, which will yield over $1,200 in annual energy savings and replace 17,434 kWh per year, which is enough energy to power one home.
USDA continues to accept REAP applications and has set aside a portion of the program funds to support underutilized renewable energy technologies, like wind and geothermal power. For additional information, contact a local energy coordinator.
A list of latest IL REAP awards is available online.
USDA Rural Development supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page.
To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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