U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Michigan Brandon Fewins today announced $1.7 million in grants for agriculture producers and rural small businesses to make investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
“These projects demonstrate new and innovative ways to approach renewable energy and energy efficiency,” said Fewins. “They will strengthen rural Michigan and improve our state’s resilience and energy independence.”
USDA is providing $1,782,977 through the Rural Energy for America Program to four recipients in western Michigan.
Meadowbrook AG-Grid LLC, in Ionia County, will use a $1 million grant to purchase and install a twin tank digester using dairy manure and food waste at a 4,035 head dairy farm to produce renewable natural gas. The business was established July 2021 to operate an anaerobic digester system. This project will realize $5,927,823 per year in income from renewable natural gas sales and will generate 28,343,493 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 2,615 homes. Project payback is eight years.
B & T Partnership, in Kalamazoo County, will use a $235,560 grant to purchase and install a 195 kilowatt kW solar photovoltaic system. B & T Partnership currently farms 12,000 acres and has been operating for 22 years. This project will realize $38,476 per year in savings and replace 252,788 kWh (100 percent) per year, which is enough energy to power 23 homes. Project payback is 16 years.
Tesa Plant Sparta LLC, in Kent County, will use a $473,817 to purchase and install a 630 kW roof mounted solar photovoltaic system. The company is a manufacturer of special adhesive tapes for cars, appliances, and packaging. This project will realize $82,503 per year in savings and will replace 862,100 kWh (11 percent) per year, which is enough energy to power 79 homes. Project payback is 15 years.
Phillip Kuhlman, in St. Joseph County, will use a $73,600 grant to purchase and install a grain dryer replacement system. He is a sole proprietor grain farmer who has been operating for 46 years. This project will realize $16,987 per year in savings and will save 242,518 kWh (52 percent) per year in grain drying, which is enough energy to power 22 homes. Project payback is 11 years.
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.
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