U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development New York State Director Brian Murray today announced investments totaling $6,147,601 in loan and grant funding for 13 renewable energy programs throughout rural New York. This is part of a national announcement where USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is awarding $145 million in loans and grants to help agricultural producers and rural small business owners make energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy investments to lower energy costs, generate new income and strengthen the resiliency of their operations.
This funding is made possible in part by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combatting the climate crisis. It also advances the President’s Investing in America agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle-out and bottom up.
“President Biden and USDA are ensuring farmers, ranchers and small businesses are not only a part of the clean energy economy, but directly benefitting from it,” State Director Brian Murray said. “The investments announced today expand access to renewable energy infrastructure, all while creating good-paying jobs and saving people money on their energy costs.”
USDA is investing $145 million in 697 renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects in 45 states and one territory. The Department is awarding the loans and grants through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
The investments are helping to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure and build a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make rural communities more resilient. Projects in New York include:
- Sap Bush Hollow Farm, LLC This Rural Development investment of $19,444 in grant funds will be used to purchase and install two Norlake 72" x 96" x 91" freezers. Sap Bush Hollow Farm LLC is a three generation grass-based livestock farm producing meat and wool products for retail, wholesale, and CSA trade, and for serving through their farm-to-table cafe. The project is located in West Fulton, New York, in the heart of Schoharie County. This project will realize $867 per year in savings and will replace 5,539 kilowatt hours (kWh) (32 percent) per year, which is enough electricity to power one home.
- All About Construction, Inc. This Rural Development investment of $13,152 in grant funds will be used to purchase and install a 10 kW solar array at All About Construction Inc., a family-owned residential home builder in Kingston, Ulster County, New York. The project will help farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses develop renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. This project annually will save $2,226 and replace 12,715 kWh (111 percent), enough energy to power two homes. The applicant will contribute $19,728 to the project.
- Highway 233 Solar, Inc. This Rural Development investment of $3,500,000 in loan funds will be used to purchase and install a 2.74 megawatt (mW) solar system. Highway 233 Solar, LLC is a newly created entity for the purpose of generating electricity in Westmoreland, New York in Oneida County. The system is estimated to produce 3,413,300 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power 341 homes. As a result of this investment, three jobs will be created.
- HamilSun Community Solar, LLC This Rural Development investment of $1,000,000 in grant funding will be used to purchase and install a 2.65 megawatt (mW) solar system. HamilSun Community Solar LLC is a newly created entity for the purpose of generating electricity in Peru, New York, in Clinton county. The system is estimated to produce 4,105,019 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power 411 homes.
- R.I. Suresky & Sons, Inc. This Rural Development investment of $247,553 in grant funding will be used to purchase and install a 250 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. RI Suresky & Son Inc. is a family-owned dealership in Goshen, New York. They sell and service Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles. This project will realize $22,609 per year in savings and will replace/save 275,850 kilowatt (kWh) of electricity per year (85 percent).
USDA is making awards in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the Virgin Islands.
The Department continues to accept REAP applications and will hold funding competitions quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024. The funding includes $144.5 million for underutilized renewable energy technologies. For additional information on application deadlines and submission details, see page 19239 of the March 31 Federal Register.
Background: Inflation Reduction Act
As a core pillar of Bidenomics and the President’s Investing in America agenda, the Inflation Reduction Act makes the largest investment in climate action in history and is lowering energy costs, bringing opportunity to communities across America and tackling the climate crisis through investments in agriculture, forest restoration, and rural communities.
Since December 2022, USDA has made up to $1.3 billion available in REAP funding through the Inflation Reduction Act. Eligible applicants include rural small business owners and agricultural producers. The program is part of the Justice40 Initiative, which is working to ensure that 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments reach communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment.
The Biden-Harris Administration championed the Inflation Reduction Act to help provide new funding and unprecedented incentives to expand clean energy, transform rural power production, create jobs and spur economic growth. It is the largest single investment in rural electrification since the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
Through the Inflation Reduction Act, the Administration is delivering on its promise to fight climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across America.
It provides funding to USDA Rural Development to help eligible organizations invest in renewable energy infrastructure and zero-emission systems and make energy-efficiency improvements that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
It will boost the long-term resiliency, reliability and affordability of rural electric systems. It will help families save money on utility bills, and it will expand rural opportunities in the clean-energy economy.
For more information on the Inflation Reduction Act, visit: https://www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, visit www.rd.usda.gov or contact the nearest USDA Rural Development state office.
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. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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