U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Kentucky State Director Dr. Tom Carew today announced 23 projects in rural Kentucky totaling over $3.3 million.
The projects, funded through the Rural Energy for America Program, will help rural businesses and agricultural producers make energy efficiency and clean energy improvements.
“More and more businesses are crunching the numbers and seeing the value in making energy efficiency and energy generation improvements, and the projects I’m announcing today will help lower energy costs and harness renewable energy,” said Carew. “The Biden-Harris administration has a strong record of investing in rural small businesses and agricultural producers so they can install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements, both of which lower energy costs and strengthen operational resiliency.”
Mountain Association For Economic Development (Madison County) will use a $100,000 technical assistance grant to support energy audits and provide turnkey Rural Energy for America Program grant packaging to clients in Justice40 and Strike Force communities in Eastern and Southern Kentucky.
Majors Granite and Quartz LLC (Garrard County) will use a $67,733 grant to purchase and install a 32.85-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $4,817 per year in energy costs and generate 42,270 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 3.88 homes.
Bardstown Mills Inc. (Nelson County) will use a $62,609 grant to purchase and install a 44.7-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $4,191 per year in energy costs and generate 43,365 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 3.98 homes.
Four Mile Farms (Logan County) will use a $194,808 grant to install a 2410 Sukup Grain Dryer. This project is expected to save $39,583 per year in energy costs. This system will save 141,444 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough energy to power 12.98 homes.
Mayfield Venture Hospitality LLC (Graves County) will use a $157,550 grant to purchase and install a 115-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $18,841 per year in energy costs and generate 160,900 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 14.77 homes.
Robert Scott Keach (Henderson County) will use an $81,564 grant to purchase and install four solar systems (3.94 kilowatts, 9.84 kilowatts, 7.38 kilowatts and 7.38 kilowatts). The project is expected to save $4,264 per year in energy costs and generate 35,478 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 3.26 homes.
Johnny Matheny III (Graves County) will use a $409,590 grant to purchase and install a 223-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $38,604 per year in energy costs and generate 314,626 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 28.88 homes.
880 Storage LLC (Bullitt County) will use a $137,000 grant to purchase and install a 101.5-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $5,992 per year in energy costs and generate 101,115 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 9.28 homes.
James A. Larue (Larue County) will use an $18,000 grant to purchase and install an 8.6-kilowatt solar system and a 3.7-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $1,607 per year in energy costs and generate 16,739 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 1.54 homes.
Frankfort Electric & Water Plant Board (Franklin County) will use a $1,000,000 grant to purchase and install a 1.17-megawatt solar system. The project is expected to save $65,370 per year in energy costs and generate 1,831,100 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 168.08 homes.
TCM Properties LLC dba Sunrise Over Her (Garrard County) will use a $32,827 grant to purchase and install a 23.8-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $1,774 per year in energy costs and generate 28,043 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 2.57 homes.
Ashkosh LLC (Madison County) will use an $80,323 grant to purchase and install a combined 59.84-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $4,342 per year in energy costs and generate 69,133 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 6.35 homes.
Solid Rock Enterprises Inc. (Jessamine County) will use a $58,400 grant to purchase and install a 37.4-kilowatt solar system with 30-kilowatt battery storage. The project is expected to save $6,245 per year in energy costs and generate 50,961 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 4.68 homes.
Cox Foods LLC (Pike County) will use a $211,487 grant to make energy efficiency improvements by installing display cases, medium-temperature reach-in merchandizers, low-temperature reach-in merchandizers, deli hot and cold cases, replacing walk-in freezer door, compressor and relocating generator. The project is expected to save $4,520 per year in energy costs and save 37,106 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 3.41 homes.
Ramsey Home Place LLC (Pike County) will use a $29,050 grant to make energy efficiency improvements by installing seven day and night five-ton energy efficient heat pumps. The project is expected to save $483 per year in energy costs and save 3,719 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately .34 homes.
Ballew Farms LLC (Madison County) will use an $11,275 grant to purchase and install an 8.9-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $320 per year in energy costs and generate 12,420 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 1.14 homes.
Marshall Pediatric Therapy LLC (Madison County) will use a $31,037 grant to purchase and install three heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units. The project is expected to save $2,018 per year in energy costs and save 16,518 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 1.52 homes.
Kentucky Dawgs LLC (Henry County) will use a $40,000 grant to purchase and install a 32-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $4,313 per year in energy costs and generate 46,952 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 4.31 homes.
Carlus Alan Mercer (Daviess County) will use a $54,007 grant to make energy efficiency improvements by installing a new Sukup T283 grain dryer. This project is expected to save $1,547 per year. This system will save 54,909 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough energy to power 5.04 homes.
Starski Enterprise LLC (Hopkins County) will use a $97,100 grant to purchase and install a 32.37-kilowatt solar system and a five-ton geothermal heat pump with a pond loop. The project is expected to save $456 per year in energy costs and generate 42,541 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 3.9 homes.
Sima Ventures LLC (Madison County) will use a $139,349 grant to purchase and install a combined 119.7-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $5,201 per year in energy costs and generate 146,106 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 13.41 homes.
John O. Evans (Simpson County) will use a $43,000 grant to make energy efficiency improvements by installing a GSI 1112 Grain Dryer. This project is expected to save $1,583 per year in energy costs. This system will save 8,978 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough energy to .82 power homes.
BTR Holdings LLC (Nelson County) will use a $264,000 grant to purchase and install a 298.8-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $27,128 per year in energy costs and generate 388,770 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 35.69 homes.
During the Biden-Harris administration, USDA Rural Development has supported economic prosperity and quality of life improvements in rural Kentucky by obligating over $3.6 billion. 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. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/ky.