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USDA Announces 31 NH Farms and Small Businesses Undertaking New Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects…Plainfield’s Edgewater Farm Prepares to Turn on New Solar Panels

Name
Pollaidh Major
City
Plainfield, NH
Release Date

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and U.S. Rep. Anne McLane Kuster visited Edgewater Farm Friday to announce that the Plainfield farm was one of 31 farms and small businesses receiving $1,163,000 in USDA Rural Development grants to spur renewable energy generation and energy conservation.

During Friday’s announcement, Ray Sprague of Edgewater Farm said that the newly mounted solar panels on his family farm’s barn will offset 45 percent of the farm’s electric load. The Sprague family received a $14,035 USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program grant to install a 14.4 kilowatt solar array. The panels are undergoing the final adjustments before being formally connected to the electric grid this fall.

“From solar panels to wood pellet boilers, these projects will help farmers and small businesses reduce their energy bills, help our nation reduce its carbon footprint, and help make rural communities more sustainable,” said Vermont and New Hampshire USDA Rural Development State Director Ted Brady. “USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program grants incentivize farmers and small businesses to invest their own funding to reduce one of their largest barriers to profitability – energy costs.”

Across New Hampshire, 31 farms and small businesses received $1,163,000 to install more than two dozen solar arrays, three modern wood heating systems, one energy efficient lighting project, and one geothermal installation. The funding leveraged an additional $4,279,579 of investment from the farmers, small businesses and other sources.  For the full list of New Hampshire projects, view the project chart.

From the Mahoosuck Inn in Milan, where the innkeepers are installing a solar array and upgrading their wood pellet boiler using a $28,906 grant, to Keene-based sustainable greeting card company Tree-Free’s solar array installed using a $29,291 grant, many of the grantees will produce enough power to offset their entire electric bill. In total, the projects will create or save the equivalent of enough electricity to power 243 homes annually. See the attached list for a comprehensive list of New Hampshire’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grantees.

The Rural Energy for America Program allows farmers and small businesses to apply for a grant of up to 25 percent of a renewable energy or energy efficiency project’s cost, up to a maximum grant of $500,000, or $250,000 for an energy efficiency project.

Brady noted that the 2014 Farm Bill reauthorized the Rural Energy for America Program grant and loan program, and that New Hampshire’s Congressional Delegation fought to include funding for the program in the bill as well as in annual appropriations bills. In addition, the 2014 Farm Bill included language reducing the paperwork burden on applicants. 
 

“The energy efficiency and renewable projects made possible through these grants will strengthen New Hampshire’s small towns and rural communities,” said Shaheen.  “These are smart investments in resourceful technologies that are good for the environment and spur economic growth. It’s important that Granite State businesses and farms have the competitive advantage of lower energy costs, and that’s why I’ll continue supporting programs like REAP in the Senate.”

 

“In today’s economy and business market, renewable energy is playing an increasingly critical role in fueling our farms and small businesses,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “As we see here today, rural development’s reach is broad and impactful, and it is important that our farms and small businesses are supported in their transition to clean, renewable, self-sufficient forms of energy. I am thrilled that through this grant, Edgewater Farm and 30 other farms and small businesses across the state are supported as they continue to embrace renewable energy without diminishing their bottom line.”

 

During the announcement, Brady announced that the USDA is currently accepting applications for the next round of REAP funding through November 2nd. Funding is available for projects under $80,000, with a maximum grant of $20,000. Larger applications are encouraged to apply, but are not due until May 2, 2016.

USDA, through its RD mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $211 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural areas. For more information on Rural Development visit www.rd.usda.gov/nh or contact USDA RD at (603) 223-6035.