Reducing Waste Power and Utilizing Renewable Energy in Rural America
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week announced that USDA has selected for funding 67 projects nationwide that are focused on helping rural agricultural producers reduce energy consumption and costs; use renewable energy technologies in their operation; and/or conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy projects. Funding is made available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill. Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager made the announcement on behalf of the Secretary while attending the Pennsylvania meeting of the National Rural Electric Association (NRECA).
“The Obama Administration is committed to making America more energy efficient, and in doing so, more competitive by encouraging rural businesses build renewable energy systems,” said Tonsager.
The projects announced today will provide rural small businesses and agricultural producers the opportunity to conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy system installations. Eligible intermediaries, such as universities, will receive funds to conduct energy audits which will lead to energy savings and initiatives that will reduce energy consumption for years to come.
Tonsager said that Pennsylvania State University has been selected to receive a $99,676 grant to conduct a statewide initiative that offers technical assistance and workforce solutions through energy audits. Saint Francis University, also in Pennsylvania, was selected to receive $100,000 to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy consumption and cost through technical assistance provided by the university.
In Charleston, W. Va., the West Virginia Division of Energy has been selected to receive a $100,000 grant to complete 130 energy audits for rural small businesses to help them reduce energy usage and operating costs. Boise State University in Idaho was selected to receive a $100,000 grant to offer energy savings- information and energy audits to more than 1,500 manufacturing-related agricultural producers and small business in the state.
Arbre Farms Corporation in Walkerville, Mich., was selected to receive $7,000 to evaluate the feasibility of installing and operating an anaerobic digester that could produce and use biogas as a substitute for propane to power the farm’s boilers. “Last year, these same feasibility study funds provided through REAP assisted in a tremendous year of anaerobic digester development and are an important first step in a successful renewable energy project,” said Tonsager. “Construction is beginning on four USDA funded digester projects here in Pennsylvania and six digester projects next door in Ohio. These systems will provide additional farm income, contribute to better nutrient management, and produce clean, renewable electricity for thousands of homes in the community.”
Today’s announcement is in concert with an agreement signed by Secretary Vilsack in December, 2009. During climate change talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Secretary signed a historic agreement to help U.S. dairy producers cut greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement between USDA and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy calls for the parties to work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farms by 25 percent by 2020.
With today’s announcement, USDA is awarding more than $2.4 million in energy audits grants, Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants; and more than $1.2 million to support feasibility study projects.
Funding is made available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) under the 2008 Farm Bill. REAP loan guarantees and grants can be used for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, feasibility studies, renewable energy development assistance and energy audits. More information on the REAP program can be found at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapGrants.html Funding of each recipient is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions for the grant. The following is a complete list of award recipients announced today.
Feasibility Study Recipients by State
Colorado
Northern Colorado WindPower, LLC – $50,000
Hawaii
Frank A. Cipriani dba Biofarms Hawaii, LLC – $14,255
Tawn I. Kenney dba The Honoka’a People’s Theater – $1,041
Pacific Light and Power, Inc. – $35,338
Iowa
Plymouth Energy, LLC – $9,829
Idaho
Don W. Gilbert Hydro Power, LLC – $14,650
Elizabeth Olson – $1,600
Indiana
e-Biofuels, LLC – $3,149
Maine
Corinth Wood Pellets, LLC – $9,000
Maryland
Berrywine Plantations, Inc., dba Linganore Winecellars – $11,625
Michigan
Arbre Farms Corporation – $7,000
Lowell Light and Power – $30,000
Suburban Aviation, Inc. – $10,000
Minnesota
Little Rock Wind, LLC – $50,000
Norfolk Wind Energy, LLC – $50,000
Whirlwind Energy, LLC – $50,000
Nebraska
Growth Design Energy Nebraska, LLC – $10,000
New Jersey
Renu Energy Inc., – $50,000
North Dakota
Carrie Piper Cummer – $10,000
Oregon
Donald G. Averill – $27,500
Puerto Rico
Recast Energy, LLC – $9,575
Rhode Island
Global Imaging Holdings Realty, LLC – $50,000
Plain Lane Acres, LLC – $50,000
South Dakota
Blue Cloud Wind, LLC – $50,000
Dakota Wind Energy, LLC – $50,000
Flandreau Windfarm, LLC – $50,000
Northern Wind, LLC – $50,000
West Pipestone Creek, LLC – $50,000
Texas
Gulf Coast Wind, LLC – $31,296
Hall Brothers Partnership – $25,000
Midwest Renewable Energy, Inc., – $50,000
Mr. E. Green, Inc., – $31,938
Wind Miner, LLC – $29,114
Utah
K.C. Ranches, Inc. – $50,000
Ticaboo Electric Improvement District – $50,000
Vermont
Green Mountain Clean Energy, LLC – $50,000
Lemington Solar Farm, LLC – $15,000
Virginia
Burnshire Hydroelectric, LLC – $10,000
Washington
SKS Management, LLC – $43,750
Western Pacific
Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation – $50,000
Energy Audits and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Recipients by State
Alabama
University of Alabama – $97,500
Colorado
Colorado State University – $37,500
Delta-Montrose Electric Association – $97,325
Georgia
The University of Georgia –$100,000
Hawaii
Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; State Energy Office – $100,000
Idaho
Boise State University – $100,000
Indiana
Purdue University – $96,531
Iowa
Department of Natural Resources – $99,552
Department of Economic Development – $32,875
Kentucky
University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc. – $100,000
Maine
Greater Portland Council of Governments – $100,000
Efficiency Maine Trust – $100,000
Michigan
Michigan State University –$100,000
Minnesota
Regents of the University of Minnesota – $100,000
Nevada
Nevada System of Higher Education Desert Research Institute –$99,935
New Mexico
Regents of New Mexico State University/Institute for Energy and the Environment – $100,000
North Carolina
Land of Sky Regional Council – $99,825
North Carolina State University – $100,000
Oregon
Oregon Institute of Technology – $100,000
Oregon State University – $74,209
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania State University – $99,676
Saint Francis University – $100,000
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Resource Conservation and Development Area Council, Inc. – $50,000
Washington
Washington State Department of Commerce – $100,000
Washington State University – $100,000
West Virginia
West Virginia Division of Energy – $100,000
Wyoming
Office of Research, University of Wyoming –$60,000
Since taking office, the Obama administration has taken historic steps to improve the lives of rural Americans, put people back to work and build thriving economies in rural communities. From proposing the American Jobs Act to establishing the first-ever White House Rural Council – chaired by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack – the President wants the federal government to be the best possible partner for rural businesses and entrepreneurs creating job opportunities and for people who want to live, work, and raise their families in rural communities.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $155 billion in affordable loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.
Tags: boise state university, clean energy, conduct feasibility studies, country clean energy, energy audits, energy consumption, pennsylvania state university, renewable energy, renewable energy projects, renewable energy system, renewable energy systems, renewable energy technologies, rural businesses, rural energy, saint francis university, statewide initiative, system installations, waste energy, waste power, west virginia division, workforce solutions
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