PHOENIX, Nov. 20, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Arizona State Director Charlene Fernandez announced today that USDA is funding 14 new projects totaling nearly $3 million in Arizona to lower costs, expand access to clean energy and strengthen American farms and small businesses. USDA is making the investments through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), a program that has seen record demand in response to historic funding provided by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
“The investments announced today highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s critical role in funding the advancement of rural energy transitions and resilience in Arizona,” State Director Fernandez said. “Investments in cleaner energy sources not only reduce costs for business owners and farmers, but also drive economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen energy independence in rural Arizona.”
Here are examples of the awards being announced today:
- Golden Rule Dairy, a dairy farm in Elfrida, is using a grant of more than $250,000 to build a solar array that will produce energy to offset costs and provide needed shade for cows to produce more milk on hot days This project is expected to save $17,329.00 and 162,580 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually, which is enough energy to power eight homes per year.
- In Winslow, La Posada Hotel and the Turquoise Room restaurant are using grants of $104,500 and $221,750 to develop an elevated solar array in the overflow parking area to both offset the business’ electric load and provide a covered parking area for employees and guests. This project will collectively save $41,988 per year and displace 100 percent of the restaurant’s load and 25 percent of the hotel’s load. It will produce 299,920 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually, which is enough energy to power 25 homes per year.
- Forever Yong Farm, a small garlic and agave producer in Amado, is using a grant of $13,590 to install a small ground mounted solar PV system on a farm. This project is expected to save $1,215.00 and 11,780 kWh annually, which is enough energy to power one home.
- Mustang Mall LLC in Pearce will use a $140,000 grant to install a roof, mounted, grid-tied, solar PV system of the multi-business commercial building. This project is expected to save $20,457 and 161,062 kWh annually, which is enough to power 8.8 homes.
View the full list of Arizona projects online.
In all, USDA recently announced it is investing more than $256 million in loans and grants that will support more than 1,100 clean energy projects in 40 states.
Most of the projects being announced today are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the climate crisis.
Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has invested more than $2.7 billion through REAP in 9,901 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. Almost 7,000 of these projects were funded by over $1 billion provided by the Inflation Reduction Act.
REAP enables agricultural producers and rural small business owners to expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses and address climate change while lowering energy costs for American families.
This is the final REAP funding availability from the Inflation Reduction Act. USDA is accepting applications in this first round through two windows. The deadlines to apply are Dec. 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025. For additional information, contact a local energy coordinator.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. REAP is a part of the President’s Justice40 Initiative which sets a goal that 40% of the benefits from certain federal investments go to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. USDA Rural Development 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.
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, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, 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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