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CHAMPAIGN, IL Nov 6th, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) IL State Director Betsy Dirksen Londrigan today announced USDA Rural Development is awarding an additional $10 million in loans and grants to help agricultural producers and rural business owners make energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy investments to lower energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen the resiliency of their operations.
“Farmers and small businesses are participating in the clean energy economy and reaping both immediate and future benefits thanks to these investments” says Dirksen Londrigan. “In addition to generating well-paying jobs and lowering people's energy expenses, the investments announced today also increase access to renewable energy infrastructure. Part of what makes these investments so exciting is the scale and breadth of entities benefitting from the REAP program. From farmers and ag producers to small town businesses, these renewable energy investments will serve Illinois’ rural communities for decades to come.”
A few Illinois project highlights include:
- Henry Rehab and Nursing received a $250,000 grant to purchase a 825 kW Solar Array, saving their facility more than $97,000 per year in energy costs.
- Paris Bowling Alley received a grant to purchase and install a new HVAC unit for their business.
- Rendleman Orchards received a grant for a new refrigeration system, resulting in more than $5,800 in energy savings each year.
View Illinois’ REAP announcement chart here. The Department continues to accept REAP applications and will hold funding competitions quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024. The next REAP deadline is December 31st, 2023.
Background: Inflation Reduction Act
For more information on the Inflation Reduction Act, visit: https://www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act.
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