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USDA Invests $2.2 Million in Clean Energy to Strengthen Wisconsin Farms and Businesses

Name
Tegan Griffith
Email
Tegan.Griffith@usda.gov
Phone
715-496-3164
City
Stevens Point
Release Date

STEVENS POINT, Wisc., April 5, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa today announced that USDA is investing $2.2 million towards 23 renewable energy projects in Wisconsin to lower energy costs, generate new income and create jobs for U.S. farmers, agricultural producers and rural small businesses.

“The Rural Energy for America Program benefits these farms and businesses by saving them money on energy costs and makes them more resilient,” said Lassa. “This program is an example of how the Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are committed to ensuring that these rural businesses are directly benefiting from both a clean energy economy and a strong U.S. supply chain.” [Audio: 19 seconds, 459 KB, Mp3]

Through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), USDA provides grants and loans to help ag producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar and other forms of clean energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses, address climate change and lower energy costs. 

These investments will cut energy costs for farmers and ag producers that can instead be used to create jobs and new revenue streams for people in their communities.

Rural Energy for America Program grants announced in Wisconsin:

  • Dairyland Biogas LLC in New Franken will use a $500,000 REAP grant to install energy efficiency equipment on their anaerobic digester. This project is expected to save the rural small business $115,796 per year. It will replace 5,359,344kWh (88 percent of the business's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 494 homes.
  • The Coburn Company Inc. in Whitewater will use a $291,500 REAP grant to install a solar electric array system. This project is expected to save the rural small business $43,661 per year. It will replace 360,831 kilowatt hours (90 percent of the business' energy use) per year, which is enough to power 33 homes.
  • Andres Brothers Partnership in Conrath will use a $267,060 REAP grant to install a new, more energy efficient grain dryer. This project is expected to save the farming operation $10,636 per year. It will save 146,865 kilowatt hours (75 percent of the farm's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 13 homes.
  • Tranel Family Farms LLC in Cuba City will use a $219,769 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array. This project is expected to save the farm $32,300 in electrical costs per year and replace 320,500 kilowatt hours (76 percent of the farm's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 29 homes. 
  • Lange Bros Woodwork Company in Pembine will use a $174,250 REAP grant to install a solar array. This project is expected to save $10,917 per year. It will replace 181,955 kilowatt hours (kWh) (80 percent of the company's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 16 homes.
  • Linda's Bakery in West Salem will use a $161,373 REAP grant to install a solar electric array system. This project is expected to save the business $34,500 per year in electrical costs and replace 442,500 kilowatt hours (31 percent of the business' energy use) per year, which is enough to power 40 homes. 
  • Rusk County Farm Supply in Ladysmith will use a $106,045 REAP grant to install a solar electric array. This project is expected to save the farm $12,500 in electrical costs per year and replace 117,983 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the business' energy use) per year, which is enough to power ten homes. 
  • EcoEgg LLC in Coon Valley will use a $98,400 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array. The project is expected to save the business $10,402 in electrical costs per year. It will replace 140,690 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the business' energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 12 homes.
  • Gerou Farms LLC, a corn and soybean farm in Bristol, will use a $77,995 REAP grant to install a new grain drying system. This project is expected to save $9,200 per year in electrical costs and replace 217,800 kilowatt hours (62 percent of the company's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 20 homes.
  • Darin Mininger, a farmer in Coon Valley, will use a $65,016 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array. This project is expected to save the farm nearly $8,000 per year in electrical costs and replace 102,400 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the farm's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power nine homes. 
  • Coulee Tech Inc. in Holmen will use a $35,787 REAP grant to purchase and install a small solar electric array. This project is expected to save the business $5,600 per year in electrical costs.
  • Goede Acres LLC, a dairy farm in Genoa, will use a $31,576 REAP grant to install a 25-kilowatt roof mount solar electric array. This project is expected to save the farm $3,843 in electrical costs per year and replace 34,042 kilowatt hours (76 percent of the farm's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power three homes.
  • Durand Family Farm LLC in Spooner will use a $23,527 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array. This project is expected to save the farm nearly $2,400 in electrical costs per year and replace 20,800 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the business' energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power two homes.
  • 200 Rittenhouse Ave LLC in Bayfield will use a $22,691 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array. This project is expected to save the rural small business $1,479 per year. It will replace 25,389 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100 percent of the business's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power two homes.
  • George's Auto Repair in Westby will use a $20,084 REAP grant to install a solar electric array. This project is expected to save the business $1,860 per year in electrical costs and replace nearly 16,000 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the business' energy use) per year, which is enough to power one home. 
  • Curt Brekken, a rural crop farmer in Stoughton, will use a $20,000 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array. The project is expected to save $2,407 per year. It will replace 32,415 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the business's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power three homes.
  • Chad Sime in Gays Mills will use a $18,648 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array. This project is expected to save $2,424 in electrical costs per year. It will replace 20,505 kilowatt hours (24 percent of the business' energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power two homes.
  • Long Winter Limited, a grain farming operation in East Troy, will use a $17,120 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array. This project is expected to save $2,153 per year. It will replace 13,292 kilowatt hours (kWh) (80 percent of the company's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power one home.
  • Caledonia Corral LLC in Fremont will use a $15,523 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array. This project is expected to save the business nearly $2,600 in electrical costs per year and replace 17,100 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the business' energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power one home.
  • Adhem Theriault in Black River Falls will use a $13,485 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array. This project is expected to save the business nearly $1,800 in electrical costs per year and replace 12,300 kilowatt hours (94 percent of the business' energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power one home.
  • Basso Builders Inc. in Lake Geneva will use a $13,482 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array. This project is expected to save the rural small business $1,325 per year. It will replace 9,966 kilowatt hours (44 percent of the business's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power one home.
  • Northwoods Community Realty LLC in Tomahawk will use a $11,300 REAP grant to install a solar electric array. This project is expected to save the business nearly $1,000 in electrical costs per year and replace 9,700 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the business' energy use) per year, which is enough to power one home. 
  • Northwind Renewable Energy Cooperative in Amherst will use a $8,500 REAP grant to install a small solar electric array. This rural small business is expected to save $1,657 per year. It will replace 14,535 kilowatt hours (132 percent of the business' energy use) per year, which is enough to power one home. 

Since FY 2021, USDA has announced in Wisconsin more than $14.5 million through REAP in 140 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements that will help rural business owners' lower energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen their resiliency of operations.

USDA continues to accept REAP applications and will hold funding competitions quarterly through September 30, 2024. The funding includes a dedicated portion for underutilized renewable energy technologies. For additional information on application deadlines and submission details, see page 19239 of the March 31 Federal Register.

Today’s announcement is part of a recent national announcement by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Nebraska which included $124 million in renewable energy and fertilizer production projects in 44 states.

The REAP program is part of the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

USDA 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. 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.


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