RICHMOND, Va., July 26, 2024 – A Shenandoah Valley business was included in today’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement of $163 million in loans, grants and technical assistance awarded through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Rural Energy for America Technical Assistance Grant Program to support 338 clean energy partnership projects in 39 states and Guam.
Legacy at Stone Spring LLC is receiving a $20,000 grant to purchase and install a roof photovoltaic system on a leased property in the city of Harrisonburg. The solar array will generate 22,559 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year, enabling this rural small business to offset approximately 92 percent of the energy usage for 7,320-square-foot warehouse with an estimated simple payback of 14 years.
“Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has invested $16.4 million in more than 50 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects benefitting businesses and agricultural enterprises in the commonwealth,” said Perry Hickman, USDA Rural Development Virginia State Director. “This announcement further demonstrates our strong commitment to delivering on promises to fight climate change and provide a brighter future for rural people.”
REAP enables agricultural producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements. Nationwide investments since 2021 exceeded $2.2 billion for 7,566 renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.
The awards will also benefit people in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. A complete list of all REAP projects can be found online.
USDA continues to accept REAP applications and has set aside a portion of the program funds to support underutilized renewable energy technologies, like wind and geothermal power. For additional information, contact Virginia Energy Coordinator Tracey Krespach at tracey.krespach@usda.gov or (804) 287-1606.
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. REAP is a part of the President’s Justice40 initiative, which focuses on directing 40 percent of the benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. 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.
