USDA Rural Development Awards More than $1M for Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency Projects
July 22, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded more than $1 million in grants and loans to 19 organizations in five states to promote the use of renewable energy and increased energy efficiency in farm and business operations.
The funds are being provided under the USDA Rural Development’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Section 9006) program.
The funding will support a variety of energy production and energy saving efforts, said the USDA.
For example, Three Corner Field Farm, in Shushan, N.Y. will receive a $17,500 grant and a matching loan guaranteed by USDA Rural Development to purchase a 10 kilowatt solar electric system, which is expected to replace an estimated 25% of the energy used on the farm, according to the USDA.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is providing a $40,000 incentive award as part of the project.
Tri-J Inc. of Sioux City, Iowa will use a $28,154 grant and matching loan to buy and install energy efficient refrigerators and freezers and add insulation to an existing building.
Other grants and loans will be used to purchase new efficient grain dryers, which are touted as providing energy savings to producers of up to 67%, claims the USDA.
A list of the selected projects is at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency loan and grant program was established under Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill to encourage agricultural producers and rural small businesses to install renewable energy systems and energy efficient improvements.
The program's funding can support technologies encompassing biomass (including anaerobic digesters), geothermal, hydrogen, solar and wind energy as well as energy efficiency improvements.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).