U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Oklahoma State Director, Kenneth Corn today announced that USDA is investing more than $500,000 in critical infrastructure to combat climate change and expand access to clean energy for people across rural Oklahoma. USDA also announced the Department will be making an additional $300 million available for the Rural Energy for America Program Available in the coming days, $250 million of which was made possible by President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to tackling climate change head on in rural Oklahoma by making investments in our economic and renewable energy infrastructure,” Corn said. “The Administration continues to lead the way by showing how committing to renewable energy in rural Oklahoma can not only strengthen our economy, but also deliver impactful climate change results as well. These investments underscore our President’s commitment to continue delivering on his promise to provide funding and critical resources and ultimately improve our economic prosperity and climate security for our rural and tribal communities across Oklahoma.”
In total USDA is investing more than $285 million through the Rural Energy for America Program. This program helps farmers, ag producers and entrepreneurs purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. It reflects the many ways USDA Rural Development helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses lower energy costs.
Some examples in Oklahoma include:
- Lake Holdings, LLC will use a $125,000 grant to purchase and install energy efficient improvements to 32 broiler grower houses. Lake Holdings LLC is an agricultural producer located in Jay, Oklahoma. The project will replace 199,333 kilowatt hours (kWh), a 53 percent energy reduction for the agricultural producer.
- Woodshed of Buffalo Ranch, LLC will use a $142,500 grant to purchase and install a 291 kilowatt (kW) solar array. Woodshed of Buffalo Ranch, LLC is a locally owned convenience store and truck stop in Afton, Oklahoma. The project generates 467,181 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 43 homes.
- Ultimate Air Stillwater, LLC., will use a $34,212 grant to install an 85 kilowatt (kW) solar array. Ultimate Air Stillwater LLC. is a locally owned rural small business in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The project generates 119,946 kilowatt hours (kWh) (87 percent of the company's energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 11 homes.
USDA also announced today that it will make $300 million available under the Rural Energy for America Program to expand renewable energy and support energy-efficiency projects for people living in rural America. This funding includes $250 million provided by the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic legislative package known as the Inflation Reduction Act. The deadline to apply for grants is March 31, 2023. Applications for technical assistance grants are due Jan. 31, 2023. Applications for loan guarantees are accepted year-round.
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the Oklahoma State USDA Rural Development Energy Coordinator well in advance of the application deadlines to discuss their project and ask any questions about the REAP program or the application process. Stakeholders can also email the Oklahoma State Office for more information at: okbusiness@usda.gov.
To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery subscriber page.