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USDA Helps Box Elder County Businesses Cut Energy Costs

Name
Jamie Welch Jaro
City
Salt Lake City
Release Date

USDA Rural Development Utah State Director Randy Parker today announced that USDA is awarding two grants for two businesses in Box Elder County, Utah, to reduce energy costs for their rural-based businesses.

“Box Elder County is growing and is a great example of economic development in action,” Parker said. “We’re partnering with businesses that are ready to harness the benefits of energy efficiency, which will lower their energy costs and boost their bottom line to support a healthy economy.”

USDA is providing the grants through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Congress appropriated $50 million for REAP grants and loan guarantees in fiscal year 2019. Recipients can use REAP funding for energy audits and renewable energy systems such as biomass, geothermal, hydropower and solar. They also can be used to make energy efficiency improvements to heating, ventilation and cooling systems; insulation; and lighting and refrigeration, for example.
Projects awarded in Utah include:

  • Kent Kelly & Associates LC will use a $19,920 grant to replace three refrigeration unit compressors and computer controls with more energy efficient models. This project is expected to save the company $3,467 per year and lower consumption by 53,280 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. The company leases retail space to a grocery store in Brigham City.
  • BC 220 LC, doing business as Ace Hardware, is receiving a $19,954 grant to install LED lighting throughout the hardware and farm equipment store in Brigham City. This project will allow the business to make energy efficiency improvements with the purchase and installation of LED lighting throughout the store. This project will lower energy costs by $5,809 and will reduce energy use by 159,740 kWh per year.

USDA announced today it is investing $1 million nationwide in renewable energy projects and will make additional funding announcements in coming weeks.  

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/ut.