BISMARCK, N.D., Nov. 14, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is funding new projects in nearly every state to lower costs, expand access to clean energy and strengthen American farms and small businesses. USDA is making the investments through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), a program that has seen record demand in response to historic funding provided by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
“The Biden-Harris Administration continues to invest in our state’s rural businesses and family farmers,” said Erin Oban, State Director, USDA Rural Development in North Dakota. “Ranging from $18,000 for a farmer near Hunter to install a solar array, to over $1 million to increase ethanol production at Hankinson Renewable Energy, these grant awards are creating efficiencies, supporting and expanding businesses, and reducing energy costs and consumption, and saving money.”
Most of the projects being announced today are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the climate crisis.
In North Dakota:
- Dave Torgerson will use a $59,300 grant to install a 48 kilowatt (kW) solar array system. Torgerson operates a family farm growing small grains near Kindred, North Dakota. This project will save the business $6,973 per year and generate 63,970 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power six homes.
- Frueh Farms will use a $500,000 grant to install a more energy efficient grain drying system. Frueh Farms operates a family farm growing small grains near Goodrich, North Dakota. This project annually will save $6,613 and replace 79,614 kilowatt hours (kWh) (45 percent), enough energy to power seven homes.
- Joe Sauvageau will use a $174,284 grant to install a more energy-efficient grain-handling system. Sauvageau operates a family farm growing small grains near Davenport, North Dakota. This project annually will save $1,565 and replace 16,939 kilowatt hours (kWh) (67 percent), enough energy to power two homes.
- Sheila Cuypers will use a $485,819 grant to install a more energy efficient grain drying system. Cuypers operates a family farm growing small grains near Litchville, North Dakota. This project annually will save $19,845 and replace 438,596 kilowatt hours (kWh) (50 percent), enough energy to power 40 homes.
- Hankinson Renewable Energy LLC will use a $1,000,000 grant to purchase and install an additional fermentation tank for an existing 157 MGPY ethanol production facility. Hankinson Renewable Energy has been in operation since 2009 and utilizes corn to produce ethanol near Hankinson, North Dakota. This project estimates to increase ethanol production by 2.1 MGPY, enough to fuel 2,845 automobiles per year.
- BC Wagner Farms will use a $47,191 grant to install a 30 kilowatt (kW) solar array system. BC Wagner Farms operates a family farm growing small grains near Englevale, North Dakota. This project will save the business $4,234 per year and generate 37,950 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power three homes.
- Nicholas Vinje will use a $18,294 grant to install a 40 kilowatt (kW) solar array system. Vinje operates a family farm growing small grains near Hunter, North Dakota. This project will save the business $2,401 per year and generate 61,032 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power six homes.
- Brian Hoffman will use a $433,334 grant to install a more energy-efficient grain-drying system. Hoffman operates a family farm growing small grains near Sutton, North Dakota. This project annually will save $2,394 and replace 19,408 kilowatt hours (kWh) (41 percent), enough energy to power two homes.
- Rashad Schaffner will use a $99,678 grant to install a geothermal heating-and-cooling system. Schaffner raises small grains on a family farm near Napoleon, North Dakota. This project annually will save $12,493 and replace 183,666 kilowatt hours (kWh), enough energy to power 17 homes.
Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has invested more than $2.7 billion through REAP in 9,901 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. Almost 7,000 of these projects were funded by over $1 billion provided by the Inflation Reduction Act.
REAP enables agricultural producers and rural small business owners to expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses and address climate change while lowering energy costs for American families.
This is the final REAP funding availability from the Inflation Reduction Act. USDA is accepting applications in this first round through two windows. The deadlines to apply are Dec. 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025. For additional information, contact a local energy coordinator.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. REAP is a part of the President’s Justice40 Initiative which sets a goal that 40% of the benefits from certain federal investments go to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. USDA Rural Development 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. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page.
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.