Funding supports solar and other renewable energy projects to create jobs and promote energy independence
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is awarding loans and grants that will help more than 1,100 rural small businesses and agricultural producers reduce energy usage and costs in their operations. The funding is for energy efficiency improvements and/or renewable energy systems. USDA is financing projects in every state, as well as in the Virgin Islands, the Western Pacific and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
“More rural business owners and ag producers are incorporating energy-saving measures into their business plans,” Vilsack said. “These actions improve an operation’s bottom line and help reduce its carbon footprint. This funding will help incorporate renewable energy and energy efficiency technology and reduce energy costs. But beyond the local benefits seen by a company saving energy costs and the global benefits of reducing carbon emissions, this funding will also create American jobs by supporting energy production and efficiency installations that are made in rural America.”
USDA Rural Development Maine State Director Virginia Manuel said, “This significant investment in renewable energy and energy efficient systems for 14 rural Maine businesses will not only help them greatly reduce operating costs and increase sustainability, but will have an important environmental impact on our state through reducing carbon emissions.”
In Maine, USDA Rural Development is investing a total of $1,663,950 in 14 rural businesses through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP):
- Athens Energy, LLC, located in Athens, has been selected to receive two grants:
- $500,000 will be utilized to construct a new biomass-fueled Organic-Rankine Cycle (ORC) power generation facility using wood waste from logging and timberland thinning operations. The proposed system is projecting to generate 58,617,600 kWh annually or enough electricity to power 5,409 homes.
- $56,520 will be utilized to install a feedstock pre-dryer system using waste heat from an adjacent biomass generation facility to assist in drying wood chips. This system will save 23,073,999 kWh annually or enough electricity to power 2,129 homes.
- Janel Inc., dba Camp Tapawingo, located in Sweden, has been selected to receive $29,900 to purchase and install a new 26.52 kW ground-mounted solar PV array at the camp. This system is expected to produce 35,230 kWh of energy annually and is projected to meet over 80% of this business' energy demands.
- Justice Farm, Inc., located in Gorham, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $8,565 to install a new 10.98 kW solar PV system. The proposed system for this family-run beef farm is projecting to generate 13,905 kWh of electricity per year, or enough electricity to power one home.
- Labrie Farms, located in St. Agatha, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $49,500 to purchase and install a new 76.5 kW ground-mounted solar PV array. This system is projected to produce 124,115 kWh of energy annually and is projected to meet over 50% of this business' energy demands.
- Maine Beer Company, LLC, located in Freeport, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $49,273 to purchase and install new roof and ground-mounted solar PV arrays totaling 55.12 kW. This system is expected to produce 69,424 kWh of energy annually and is projected to meet over 49% of this business' energy demands.
- Gilles M. Michaud, in Caswell, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $106,862 to purchase and install a new 102.6 kW dual axis solar tracking pole-mounted solar PV system. This system is expected to produce 168,717 kWh of energy annually and is projected to meet over 42% of this business' energy demands.
- North Branch, LLC, located in Monroe, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $5,048 to install a new 7.60 kW solar PV system. The proposed system is projecting to generate 5,919 kWh of electricity per year, displacing 100% of this family-operated dairy and vegetable farms’ business energy usage.
- Planson International Corporation, located in New Gloucester, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $27,222 to purchase and install a new 39.78kW ground-mounted solar PV array at this woman-owned global supplier of information and communication technology for international organizations. This system is expected to produce 47,749 kWh of energy annually and is projected to meet this business' energy demands.
- Ricker Hill Orchards, located in Turner, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $22,261 for energy efficient improvements to include purchasing and installing a new apple packing line. This equipment will use fewer and more efficient electric motors, reducing energy consumption for this business by 3%.
- Smith’s Farm, Inc., located in Presque Isle, has been selected to receive $227,681 to purchase and install a new 205.2 kW dual axis solar tracking pole-mounted solar PV system. This system is expected to produce 365,854 kWh of energy annually and is projected to meet over 19% of this business' energy demands.
- Sparky’s Apiaries, Inc., located in Hope, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $1,867 to purchase and install a new energy efficient reverse osmosis system for this maple syrup producer. The proposed system is estimated to reduce energy usage by 66%. The proposed system is projecting to save enough energy to equate to the amount of electricity it takes to power two homes.
- The Wildwood Corporation, located in Bridgeton, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $59,301 to purchase and install a new 70.2 kW solar PV roof-mounted system producing 80,920 kWh annually. Generated energy will meet this business’ energy needs.
- VGBLADS, LLC, located in Brunswick, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $500,000 to construct an Anaerobic Digester/Energy Production Facility at the end of an airport tarmac now called Brunswick Landing. The facility will have the capacity to anaerobically digest 51,684 wet tons of organic material annually, while producing 7,884,000 kWh or enough electricity to power 727 homes.
- William M. Lowe, Inc. dba Lowe Hardware, located in Rockland, has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $19,950 to install a new 25.50 kW roof-mounted solar PV array to this hardware business and displace over 50% of their annual usage. The proposed project projects to generate 31,461 kWh of electricity per year, or enough electricity to power the equivalent of two homes.
USDA is providing $102 million in loan guarantees and $71 million in grants for 1,114 projects financed through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Among the projects, nearly $6 million is being awarded for 17 anaerobic digesters in California, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington. In total, these projects are expected to generate and/or save 906 million kilowatt hours (KWh) of energy – enough to power more than 83,675 homes for a year and cut carbon pollution by an estimated 455,000 metric tons. That is the equivalent of taking more than 131,500 cars off the road for a year.
Congress created the REAP program in the 2002 Farm Bill. Because of the success of the program, Congress reauthorized it in the 2014 Farm Bill with guaranteed funding of at least $50 million annually for the duration of the five-year bill. The 2014 Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past seven years while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers.
Since the start of the Obama Administration, REAP has helped finance 10,753 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that have reduced energy costs for rural businesses nationwide. During this period, USDA has provided almost $360 million in grants and $430 million in loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small business owners. When operational, these projects will generate/save an estimated 8.4 million megawatt hours – enough to power more than 760,000 homes for a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. That’s the equivalent of removing more than 1 million cars from the road.
Funding of each award announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement.
In addition to the grants announced today, USDA is reminding eligible recipients that the department is accepting applications for future REAP funding. For application deadlines and details on how to apply, contact a USDA state energy coordinator, or see page 60349 of the October 6 Federal Register.
President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.
USDA Rural Development has Area Offices located in Presque Isle, Bangor, Lewiston, and Scarborough, as well as a State Office, located in Bangor. There are 60 employees working to deliver the agency’s Housing, Business, and Community Programs, which are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, and farmers, and improve the quality of life in rural Maine. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development's web site at http://www.rd.usda.gov/me.