Today, in honor of Earth Day 2024, USDA Rural Development New York State Director Brian Murray announced funding for 34 clean energy and domestic biofuel projects totaling $11,645,848 throughout rural New York State. This is part of a national announcement where Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is funding more than 700 clean energy projects to lower energy bills, expand access to domestic biofuels and create jobs and new market opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. Many of the projects are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the climate crisis.
The projects advance President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle out and bottom up. They will create jobs and spur economic growth in rural communities by increasing competition in agricultural markets, lowering costs and build more clean energy projects.
“The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are committed to expanding access to modern clean energy systems and fueling options that strengthen the nation’s energy independence while creating good-paying jobs and saving people money,” Murray said. “As we celebrate Earth Day this year, we are excited to partner with dozens of family farms and small businesses in New York to address the impacts of climate change, grow the economy and keep rural communities strong and resilient.”
In all, USDA is providing $238 million in funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP).
Rural Clean Energy Production
Torres Small announced more than $194 million in loans and grants through REAP to support projects in 35 states and Puerto Rico.
The REAP program helps agricultural producers and rural small business owners 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, address climate change and lower energy costs for American families.
The REAP program is part of the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy and other investment areas flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
These investments will cut energy costs for family farms and other businesses, increasing their resiliency and allowing them to invest back into their communities by creating new jobs and other opportunities.
Projects in New York include: For example:
- Partyka & Farms LLC This Rural Development investment of $87,062 in grant funding will be used to purchase and install a grain dryer. Partyka & Sons Farms LLC is a sixth generation family owned operation growing fruits, vegetables and plants since 2012 in Kendall, NY. Partyka also sell dry roasted, no shell pumpkin seeds processed from their own crop to retail and wholesale markets. This project will realize $6,864 per year in savings and will replace 81,725 kilowatt hours (kWh) (63.75 percent) per year.
- The Olde Pickle Factory, Inc. This Rural Development investment of $1,000,000 in grant funding will be used to purchase and install a 1,296.9 kilowatt (kW) solar array. The Olde Pickle Factory Inc. is part of a 430,000-square-foot business and industrial complex of medical and professional offices, manufacturing, warehouse space, and a distribution facility operating since 1995 in Medina, NY. This project will realize $123,618 per year in savings and will replace or generate 1,423,319 kilowatt hours (kWh) (75 percent energy savings) per year.
- North Harmony NY Community Solar LLC This Rural Development investment of $353,550 in grant funding will be used to assist North Harmony Community Solar LLC purchase and install a 354.6 kilowatt (kW) ground mounted solar array. North Harmony Community Solar LLC is a renewable energy generation company located in Hamburg, NY that works to bring clean, affordable renewable energy solutions to specific commercial off takers. This project will generate 444,487 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year.
- Saratoga Solar IV LLC This Rural Development investment of $5,069,400 in loan funding will be used to provide permanent debt financing for a 4.22 megawatt (MW) ground-mounted solar project in Milton, New York. Saratoga Solar IV LLC is one of multiple GSPP commercial-scale solar projects being constructed in New York with the same organizational structure. The solar array is expected to produce 5,327,680 kWh of electricity in the first full year. Funding includes a $4,684,180 Applicant Contribution.
- Fowler Hydro LCC This Rural Development investment of $999,911 in grant funding will be used to assist Fowler Hydro LLC purchase a single turbine replacement on the Fowler Dam on the Oswegatchie River, a 600 kilowatt (kW) run-of river hydroelectric facility. Fowler Hydro LLC was founded in 2014 with the primary business function of operating the Fowler Dam. This project will realize $354,000 per year in savings and will replace 1,877,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year.
- CBC Holdco LLC This Rural Development investment of $53,637 in grant funding will be used to assist CBC Holdco purchase and install a 32.4 kilowatt (kW) ground mounted solar array. CBC Holdco is a real estate holding company owned by Philip and Catherine Coombe. Electricity produced will be remote net metered to their financial services business in Ellenville, NY. This project will realize $5,993 per year in savings and will replace 39,959 kilowatt hours (kWh) (146 percent) per year. Funding includes a $53,638 Applicant Contribution.
USDA is making the REAP awards in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Puerto Rico.
Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has invested more than $2 billion through REAP to support renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements that will help rural business owners lower energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen their resiliency of operations.
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, contact a local energy coordinator.
Cleaner and More Affordable Fueling Options
USDA is also awarding more than $43 million in grants through HBIIP to business owners to increase the availability of domestic biofuels in 15 states and give Americans cleaner, more affordable fuel options.
HBIIP provides grants to fueling station and distribution facility owners, including marine, rail, and home heating oil facilities, to help expand access to domestic biofuels, a clean and affordable source of energy. These investments help business owners install and upgrade infrastructure such as fuel pumps, dispensers and storage tanks.
For example, in New York:
- Taneja & Co. Holdings, LLC, in Tuxedo Park, NY this Rural Development investment of $173,500 in grant funding will be used to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. This project projects to increase the amount of ethanol sold by 64,133 gallons per year. The purpose of this funding program is to assist owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities in activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel.
USDA is making the HBIIP awards in California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.
Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has invested approximately $135 million to increase access to biofuels at fueling stations. In June 2023, USDA made $450 million available in Inflation Reduction Act funding through the HBIIP to expand the use and availability of higher-blend biofuels.
USDA continues to accept applications for funding to expand access to domestic biofuels. These grants will support the infrastructure needed to reduce out-of-pocket costs for transportation fueling and distribution facilities to install and upgrade biofuel-related infrastructure such as pumps, dispensers and storage tanks. Applications are being accepted quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024.
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. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.