U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

USDA Helps Farms and Small Businesses Conserve Energy and Save Costs

Name
Gayle Aubrey
City
Temple
Release Date

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has awarded 26 grants to help rural small businesses and agricultural producers across rural America conserve energy and develop renewable energy systems, ultimately reducing their carbon footprint, lowering overhead costs and helping to create jobs. The grants are made possible through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which helps farms and small businesses right-size their energy systems and helps with the installation costs for renewable energy equipment.

"Helping thousands of rural small businesses, farmers and ranchers shift away from fossil-based energy by installing renewable energy systems and energy efficiency solutions has been one of the most important components of USDA's climate mitigation investments," Vilsack said. "Nationwide, Americans are lowering their carbon footprint and energy bills by being more energy efficient and switching to renewable energy, and USDA investments make more of these options available. The Rural Energy for America Program also helps businesses create jobs in their communities through the development and installation of energy efficiency and generation projects. These benefits ripple across the nation as we work toward energy independence and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change."

REAP provides grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements, grants for energy audits, and grants for renewable energy planning and development to service providers who work with farmers and rural small businesses.

Texas A&M University - Commerce in Commerce, Texas is being selected to receive a $30,764 Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grant.  The funds will be used to develop a program to educate and train small business owners and agricultural producers throughout nine counties in Northeast Texas on the production and usage of biodiesel fuel that will improve their energy efficiency and profitability.

“Rural Development is pleased to offer funding through the REAP program to Texas A&M University - Commerce,” said USDA Rural Development Texas State Director Paco Valentin. “By entering into this partnership, rural Texas business owners and agricultural producers will have the opportunity to receive information to assist them in becoming more competitive, allowing them to expand, create jobs and serve a larger rural population.”

Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (#USDARD) has invested $11 billion to start or expand 103,000 rural businesses; helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; funded nearly 7,000 community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities; financed 185,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines; and helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.