LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, April 2, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Arkansas State Director Jill Floyd announced the award of eight Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) investments totaling more than $307,000 to lower energy costs, generate new income and create jobs for Arkansas farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers and rural small businesses.
“Powering rural Arkansans with modern, renewable energy infrastructure creates good-paying jobs and provides opportunities for people to drive economic prosperity and security,” said State Director Jill Floyd. “This investment will help these rural businesses increase income, spur economic growth, address climate change and lower energy costs. Investing in modernizing the infrastructure of rural Arkansas pays dividends by empowering opportunity and prosperity for the people who call those areas home.”
Through the REAP program, USDA 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 investments will cut energy costs that can instead be used to create jobs and new revenue streams for people in their communities.
The REAP recipients are:
Collier Auto Supply, Inc. – $45,657 investment to install a 51.3 kilowatt (kW) solar array in its business operations in Harrison, Arkansas. The project is expected to save $3,365 and replace 67,347 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually (99 percent of historic usage).
NEA Veterinary Clinic, Inc. – $33,688 investment will be used to help install a 49.68 kilowatt (kW) solar array for their business operations in Corning, Arkansas. The project is expected to save the clinic $6,443 and generate 80,228 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually.
Papoloco, LLC – $69,084 investment to help install a 48.5 kilowatt (kW) solar array for a shopping center in Wynne, Arkansas. The project is expected to generate 72,631 kilowatt hours (kWh) and save $5,728 annually.
B, E & S Partnership – $49,655 investment to help the agricultural producer install an energy efficient grain monitoring system for their grain bins in Hoxie, Arkansas. The project is expected to save $21,063 and generate 295,893 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy annually.
Batteau Blackwood Farms, LLC – $48,600 investment to help install a 54 kilowatt (kW) solar array for one of their commercial manufacturing rental properties in Witter, Arkansas. The project is expected to save $5,083 and replace 68,809 kilowatt hours (kWh) (122 percent of historic usage) annually.
DK Wright Properties, LLC – $27,802 investment to help install a 9.4 kilowatt (kW) solar array to a commercial rental property in Hector, Arkansas. The project is expected to generate 11,293 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually.
Ink Properties, LLC – $32,363 investment to help retrofit its existing renewable energy system with solar photovoltaic upgrades including installation of new inverters and batteries for a rental cabin in Harriet, Arkansas. The discontinued use of a generator will save $5,431 and 2,282 gallons of propane annually.
Curtiss Scott – $39,375 investment to install a 32-kilowatt (kW) solar array for poultry operations in Cave City, Arkansas. The project is expected to replace 46,772 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually (73 percent of historic usage) and save $4,958 per year in energy costs.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance 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.