Eight South Dakota applicants have been selected to receive $77,000 in grants from USDA Rural Development through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Funds will be used to install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements that will promote energy conservation.
“These projects will assist the state’s rural economy by reducing energy consumption,” said South Dakota Acting State Director Bruce Jones. “Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects supports home-grown energy sources, creates jobs, and reduces greenhouse gas pollution and helps usher in a more secure energy future for South Dakota.”
Eligible agricultural producers and rural small businesses may use REAP funds to make energy efficiency improvements, such as replacing lighting, coolers, HVAC, or grain dryers, or to install renewable energy systems, including solar, wind, renewable biomass (including anaerobic digesters), small hydroelectric, ocean energy, hydrogen and geothermal. We are now taking applications for the next round of funding with a deadline of April 30, 2016. If you’re thinking of doing a project, please contact Jolene Pravecek, USDA Rural Development Energy Coordinator, jolene.pravecek@sd.usda.gov; (605) 665-2662, Ext. 116. Additional information on the Rural Energy for America Program may be found at http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency/sd.
Detailed below by county are the energy projects selected from South Dakota’s allocation of funding. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant agreements.
Clay
Jones Food Center of Vermillion, LTD, Vermillion, SD - $20,000 – making energy improvements to their operation, saving 588.6 million BTU’s a year, which is equivalent to powering 16 homes.
Corson
Moser Trucking, Inc. dba Moser Main Street Market, McLaughlin, SD - $15,675 – replacing old coolers and refrigerators with new, more energy efficient coolers and refrigerators, saving 40 million BTU’s a year, which is equivalent to powering 40 homes.
Faulk
Brentwood Hutterian Brethren, Inc., Faulkton, SD - $10,740 – installing new LED lighting in their swine facility, saving 126 million BTU’s a year, which is equivalent to powering 11 homes.
Lake
Rustic Acres Hutterian, Inc., Madison, SD - $3,905 – replacing overhead existing lighting in one of their turkey barns with new LED energy efficient lighting; saving 199.3 million BTU’s, which is equivalent to powering five homes.
Lawrence
TDG Communications, Inc., Deadwood, SD - $1,689 – helping make a small marketing firm more energy-efficient by installing LED lighting in an office building, saving 6,322 kWh per year, which is enough to power one home for one half of a year.
Meade
Pit Stop, LLC, Summerset, SD - $4,660 – installing LED lighting in a rural convenience store, saving 15,874 kWh per year, which is enough to power one home per year.
Pennington
Krull Foods of HC, Inc., Hill City, SD - $18,054 – replacing old coolers in a grocery store with ne energy efficient coolers, saving 55,826 kWh per year, which is enough to power five homes for a year.
Turner
Jones Food Center of Viborg, LTD, Viborg, SD - $2,277 – making energy efficient improvements to their operations, saving 53.2 million BTU’s per year, which is enough to power one home per year.
In 2015, the Main Stop in DeSmet and the HandiMart in Arlington received REAP grant funds. Store owners Steve and Laurie Anderson, shared, “As with other convenience stores, it takes a large amount of electricity to run the coolers, display cases, and lights. We recently installed new energy efficient LED lightening in the DeSmet store and are in the process of replacing and installing coolers and display cases. The projected savings of 60% or more from the lower utility costs will allow us to invest resources in other areas of both stores that are needed.”
USDA Rural Development has eight offices in the state that assist rural communities. Office locations include a state office in Huron, along with area offices in Aberdeen, Mitchell, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Watertown, and Yankton.
President Obama’s plan for rural America has produced historic investment in rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have strengthened America’s small towns and cities and helped improve the nation’s economy.