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USDA Invests $1 Million in Climate-Smart and Resilient Infrastructure for People in Pennsylvania’s Rural Communities

Name
Daniel Blottenberger
Phone
City
Harrisburg
Release Date

SHREWSBURY, Pa., Dec. 03, 2021 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Department is investing $1 million to reduce the impacts of climate change on rural communities in Pennsylvania. As part of the Build Back Better agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration has made investing in rural communities, creating good-paying jobs and combating the climate crisis top priorities.

“Rural America is on the front lines of climate change, and our communities deserve investments that will strengthen all of our resilience,” Vilsack said. “President Biden has created a roadmap for how we can tackle the climate crisis and expand access to renewable energy infrastructure, all while creating good-paying jobs and saving people money on their energy costs. With the Build Back Better agenda, USDA will be able to fund more and more critical projects like those announced today in the coming months and years.”

The announcement was made at Saubel’s Market in York County, Pa. The local grocery store was one of 22 projects receiving Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) or Community Facilities Disaster Grants in Pennsylvania.

Saubel’s Market will receive a $102,413 USDA REAP grant. With this funding, the small business will install solar panels on the roof of their family-owned grocery store that has been in business since the 1960s. This project is expected to save $30,852 per year and will replace 395,539 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 36 homes annually. 

Background:  

Vilsack also highlighted 793 investments that USDA is making in five programs specifically designed to help people and businesses in rural areas. These programs include Community Facilities Disaster GrantsRural Energy Savings Program and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.

The funding will help people in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. It reflects the many ways USDA Rural Development helps rural residents, businesses and communities address economic development, infrastructure and social service needs. 

These investments will help build and improve rural electric infrastructure and connect residents to affordable and dependable power. They will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. They will also help transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities offer higher ethanol and biodiesel blends to customers by sharing the costs to install fuel pumps, equipment and infrastructure.

Additional projects in Pennsylvania include:

  • The Shamokin Filler Company Inc. in Northumberland County received a grant of $125,000 to purchase and install a more energy-efficient coal dryer and replace the wet scrubber system with a dry baghouse. The new dryer is a continuous dryer which operates primarily through convective heat transfer. Shamokin Filler Co. manufacturers carbon and graphite products and has been in business since 1957. The new system is expected to save the company $89,320 in electrical costs per year.
  • Miele Manufacturing Inc. in Lycoming County received a grant of $132,763 to purchase and install a 424-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. The solar panels will be installed on the roof of the cabinet manufacturing business. Miele Manufacturing Inc. has been in business since 2016. This project is expected to save $36,959 per year and will replace 506,400 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 46 homes annually.
  • The Protektor Model Company in Potter County received a grant of $22,605 to purchase and install a 55.36-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. The solar panels will be installed on the roof of the leather manufacturing business. Protektor Model Co. has been in business since 1938. This project is expected to save $9,251 per year and will replace 66,135 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 6 homes annually.
  • Yoder Barns & Storage in Union County received a grant of $32,500 to purchase and install a 94.8- kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. The solar panels will be installed on the roof of the family- owned outdoor furniture company building, which specializes in a wide range of storage buildings, garages, animal shelters, garbage bins, coal bins, cabins, pool houses, cottages, or custom-built designs. This project is expected to save $9,699 per year and will replace 96,350 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 8 homes annually.
  • K Castings Inc. in Westmorland County received a grant of $41,037 to replace two 60-year-old, inefficient, natural gas-fired crucible melting furnaces with one electric Pillar Lift Swing Furnace. K Castings Inc. was founded in 1960 and specializes in castings of non-ferrous alloys including aluminum, brass and bronze. These energy-efficient improvements are expected to save $3,943 per year and save 493,185 kilowatt hours (kWh) (89 percent of the company's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 45 homes.
  • Hoffman Transport Inc. in Franklin County received a grant of $50,000 to purchase and install a 210.8-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. The solar panels will be installed on the roof the family- owned trucking business. This project is expected to save $16,854 per year. It will replace 227,758 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 21 homes.
  • Drew Johnson in Franklin County received a grant of $40,000 to purchase and install a 136-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. The solar panels will be installed on the roof of an agriculture building on the family-owned hog farm. This project is expected to save $11,209 per year. It will replace 142,242 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 13 homes.
  • Triple H Farms Inc. in Bradford County received a grant of $25,000 to purchase and install a 70.4 - kilowatt (kW) ground-mount solar photovoltaic system. Triple H Farms Inc.'s primary farming activity is raising pigs and the solar system will be installed on open ground space just north of the pig house on the farm. This project is expected to save $8,867 per year and will replace 81,175 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100% percent of the farm's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 7 homes annually.
  • Green Tree Farms LLC in York County received a grant of $22,042 to purchase and install a 74- kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. The solar panels will be installed on the roof of an agriculture building on the family-owned farm, which produces soybeans, corn, wheat and hay. This project is expected to save $7,525 per year. It will replace 69,357 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 6 homes.
  • Landyshade Dairy Farms LLC in Lancaster County received a grant of $35,000 to purchase and install a 72- kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. The solar panels will be installed on the roof of an agriculture building on the family-owned farm. This dairy farm consists of 375 dairy cows, which produce approximately 750,000 gallons of milk once processed. This project is expected to save $9,657 per year. It will replace 76,645 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 7 homes
  • One Source Office Refreshment Service Inc. in Montgomery County received a grant of $50,000 to purchase and install a 221.6-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. The solar panels will be installed on the roof of the business which operates as an independent vending service company. This project is expected to save $21,301 per year. It will replace 236,094 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 21 homes.
  • The Harmony Mountain Institute for Living LLC in Lackawanna County received a grant of $59,350 to purchase and install a 164-kilowatt (kW) ground-mount solar photovoltaic system. The solar array will be installed in an open area on the maintained grounds of the property, which operates as a retreat center for wellness and rejuvenation. This project is expected to save $24,326 per year. It will replace 209,577 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 19 homes.
  • Nexus 1 LLC in Luzerne County received a grant of $83,725 to help fund the LED facility lighting upgrade project for NEXUS 1, LLC which will replace all outdated incandescent lighting through the offices and factory with state-of-the-art, energy efficient LED lighting equipment. NEXUS 1, LLC manufactures high-performance buildings and retrofit products that are cost-efficient, use less energy, and are resilient in the face of climate change. These energy-efficient improvements are expected to save approximately 58 percent of the company's projected energy usage.
  • The Frost Ridge Maple Farm in Crawford County received a grant of $22,565 to purchase and install a more energy-efficient reverse osmosis system. Frost Ridge Maple Farm is a family-owned and locally operated organic maple syrup producing company that has been in business for 10 years. They offer a variety of maple products including syrup, sugar, fudge, and candy. This project is expected to save $418 per year and will decrease the energy consumption by 59 percent.
  • Rudy Wolgemuth in Lancaster County received a grant of $17,900 to purchase and install a 35- kilowatt solar array for Rudy Wolgemuth's rental property business. The solar panels will be installed on the roof space of a barn/storage area. This project will realize $5,070 per year in savings and will replace 37808 kilowatt hours (108%) per year, which will offset approximately 740 tress, 67 barrels of oil, and 32 tons of greenhouse emissions per year. The purpose of this funding program is to assist farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses in developing renewable energy systems, and in making energy-efficiency improvements to their operations.
  • Danville Borough in Montour County received a grant of $23,200 to help fund a police vehicle, meter reading car and meter replacements.
  • Canton Borough in Bradford County received a grant of $84,500 to purchase a Case backhoe load with attachments.
  • Port Carbon Borough in Schuylkill County received a grant of $17,900 to help purchase a new police vehicle.
  • Montgomery Borough in Lycoming County received a grant of $19,100 to purchase a new mini excavator. The excavator will allow the borough to provide maintenance to small spaces the backhoe cannot access. It would also allow them to repair the current equipment while still providing services to the service area.
  • The Borough of Briar Creek in Columbia County received a grant of $28,300 to correct flooding conditions on Village Lane which occur due to heavy rains. The existing storm water runoff has become inadequate to handle excessive flows and during such events, the flooding also ends up effecting Rittenhouse Mill Road and other surrounding properties. The borough will install a headwall and inlet box and a 24” pipe through an existing right-of-way leading into a borough-owned detention basin.
  • The Animal Care Fund in Bradford County received a grant of $22,300 to pave the existing driveway at the East Smithfield facility. The original driveway is 54 years old. Thousands of community members visit the East Smithfield site each year to adopt or access the community clinic. In addition, the facility also provides transport of animals from partner agencies with 50 other shelters across the country and provide veterinary care to other local shelters who do not have on-site clinics to care for medical needs of their animals.

A complete list of all projects being announced across the nation can be viewed here.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our 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, ensuring access to 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.

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