The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $128,112 in Rural Energy for America Program Grants to help several Eastern Panhandle small businesses.
Projects receiving grants include:
- Bavarian Inn – Awarded a $24,962 grant to make energy efficiency improvements with the purchase and installation of LED lighting throughout the building, hot water heaters, and new kitchen equipment. This project will realize $1,824 per year in savings and will replace 85,605 kWh per year, which is enough electricity to power 7 homes.
- Mountain View Solar and Wind – Awarded a $13,464 grant to purchase and install a 7.6-kW solar array. This project will realize $2,717 per year in savings and will replace 27,170 kWh per year, which is enough to power 2 homes.
- James McAteer – Awarded a $19,666 grant to purchase and install a 30-kW solar array. This project will realize $3,651 per year in savings and will replace 35,973 kWh per year, which is enough electricity to power 3 homes.
- PriceRomine – Awarded a $17,695 grant and a $31,138 grant to make energy efficiency improvements with the purchase and installation of LED lighting throughout the building and hot water heaters and to purchase and install solar panels for the company’s office building in Shepherdstown. These projects will realize $3,648 per year in savings and will replace 36,958 kWh per year, which is enough electricity to power 3 home.
- Tate House – Awarded a $6,667 grant to purchase and install an 8-kW solar array. This project will realize $1,012 per year in savings and will replace 9,465 kWh per year, which will power roughly 75 percent of 1 home.
- Sundogs Bed and Breakfast – Awarded a $14,520 grant to make energy efficiency improvements with the purchase and installation of a 13-kW solar array. This project will realize $1,908 per year in savings and will replace 18,533 kWh per year, which is enough electricity to power 1 home.
“Having the ability to lower energy costs is an important asset that helps the West Virginia economy and rural communities by reducing energy costs and saving money that can be utilized in other key areas of the community,” said Kris Warner, West Virginia State Director, USDA Rural Development. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to the Mountain State in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural West Virginia thrives, all of America thrives.”
Together these investments will realize a savings of $23,213 per year and produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 17 homes. These investments are part of 27 statewide Rural Energy for America Program grants with a total investment of more than $1 million in rural West Virginia.
The Rural Energy for America Program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. For more information about the program, visit https://go.usa.gov/xGNsZ.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs 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 areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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