Trump Administration Invests $769,278 in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) in Mississippi
Investment to Help 25 Rural Businesses and Ag Producers Improve Energy Efficiency
Jackson, MS - August 24, 2020 – The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $769,278 to help improve energy efficiency in rural Mississippi.
“Energy expenditures represent a huge cost for small businesses and agricultural producers, so reducing these costs helps increase revenue and provide opportunity for reinvestment” said John Campbell, State Director for Rural Development in Mississippi. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Mississippi in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
In rural Mississippi, REAP recipients will use funding to invest in a variety of energy efficiency projects, such as solar panels, improvements to insulation, ventilation, cooling and lighting systems. These investments will result in reduced energy costs for businesses and increased opportunities for expansion and job growth.
Examples of projects in Mississippi include:
- Columbus Brick Company, located in Lowndes County, will use this Rural Development investment of $20,992 to help fund the purchase and installation of LED lighting upgrades. This project will realize $18,244.46 per year in savings. Additionally, this project will save 182,444.46 kWh of energy per year, which is enough energy to power 16.8 homes.
- Garrett Poultry Farm, located in Rankin County, will use this $74,615 for the purchase and installation of energy efficient improvements to six poultry broiler grower houses resulting in significant annual energy savings. This project will save 120,940 kWhs of electricity and 10,876 gallons of propane, which is enough energy to power 11 homes.
- In Sunflower County, Irrigation Equipment, Inc. will use this $88,595 investment for the purchase and installation of energy efficient oxygen monitoring systems to 109 catfish production ponds covering 655 acres. This project will save 772,992 kilowatts of electricity and 1,189 gallons of diesel valued at $113,529 with a 35.18% reduction in energy consumption, which is enough energy to power 71 homes.
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.
If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
#
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.