ERIE, Pa., April 23, 2024 – Today, in honor
of Earth Day 2024, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small
announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is funding more
than 700 clean energy projects
to lower energy bills, expand access to domestic biofuels and create jobs
and new market opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural
producers. Many of the projects are funded by President Biden’s Inflation
Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the
climate crisis.
The projects advance President Biden’s Investing in
America agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle out and
bottom up. They will create jobs and spur economic growth in rural
communities by increasing competition in agricultural markets, lowering
costs and build more clean energy projects.
“The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are committed to
expanding access to modern clean energy systems and fueling options that
strengthen the nation’s energy independence while creating good-paying jobs
and saving people money,” Deputy Secretary Torres Small said. “As we
celebrate Earth Day this year, we are excited to partner with hundreds more
family farms and small businesses to address the impacts of climate change,
grow the economy and keep rural communities throughout the country strong
and resilient.”
In all, USDA is providing $238 million in funding through
the Rural Energy for America
Program (REAP) and the Higher Blends Infrastructure
Incentive Program (HBIIP).
Rural Clean Energy Production
Torres Small announced more than $194 million in loans and
grants through REAP to support projects in 35 states and Puerto Rico.
The REAP program helps agricultural producers and rural
small business owners expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and small
hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These
innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses, address
climate change and lower energy costs for American families.
The REAP program is part of the President’s Justice40 Initiative,
which aims to ensure 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal
climate, clean energy and other investment areas flow to disadvantaged
communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by
pollution.
These investments will cut energy costs for family farms and
other businesses, increasing their resiliency and allowing them to invest
back into their communities by creating new jobs and other opportunities.
For example:
·
In Pennsylvania, Cellar ‘54 LLC will use a $49,000 grant to
buy and install a 48-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for its winery in
the Lake Erie wine region in the borough of North East. This project is
expected to save the business approximately $4,500 annually and will
generate more than 32,000 kilowatt hours per year.
·
In New Jersey, Oishii Mega Farm NJ LLC will use a $15
million loan to convert a vacant building in Phillipsburg into an energy
efficient production facility to grow Omakase and Koyo strawberries. The
facility will include a high-tech indoor vertical farming operation and
facilities to harvest, package, ship and distribute produce. The project
will create 45 new jobs and reduce operating costs by $150,000 annually by
being able to grow strawberries in a more efficient and controlled
environment.
·
In Tennessee, Yarbro Farms will use a $536,000 grant to
install a 301.92-kilowatt ground-mounted solar array on its row crop farm
in the city of Martin. The project is expected to save the family farm more
than $32,000 annually. It will also save 406,900 kilowatt hours of energy
per year, enough to power 34 homes.
USDA is making the REAP awards in Alabama, Arizona,
Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi,
Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,
Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Puerto Rico.
Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has
invested more than $2 billion through REAP to support renewable energy and
energy efficiency improvements that will help rural business owners lower
energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen their resiliency of
operations.
USDA continues to accept REAP applications and will hold
funding competitions quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024. The funding includes
a dedicated portion for underutilized renewable energy technologies. For
additional information, contact a local energy coordinator.
Cleaner and More Affordable Fueling Options
USDA is also awarding more than $43 million in grants
through HBIIP to business owners to increase the availability of domestic
biofuels in 15 states and give Americans cleaner, more affordable fuel
options.
HBIIP provides grants to fueling station and distribution
facility owners, including marine, rail, and home heating oil facilities,
to help expand access to domestic biofuels, a clean and affordable source
of energy. These investments help business owners install and upgrade
infrastructure such as fuel pumps, dispensers and storage tanks. For
example:
·
In Pennsylvania, Clyde S. Walton Inc. will use a grant of
more than $810,000 to install a 30,000-gallon biodiesel storage tank and
loading equipment at its home heating oil distribution facility in
Lansdale. This project is expected to increase the amount of biodiesel sold
by more than 5 million gallons per year.
·
In Kansas, Blue River Valley LLC will use a $3 million grant
to rebuild a pair of 2-million-gallon ethanol storage tanks and other
equipment at a fuel distribution facility in Potwin. This project is
expected to increase the amount of ethanol sold by more than 238 million
gallons per year.
·
In Minnesota, Twin Cities Auto Repair & Gas LTD will use
a $402,000 grant to install four E15 dispensers and two ethanol storage
tanks at a fueling station in Burnsville. This project is expected to
increase the amount of ethanol sold by 996,000 gallons per year.
USDA is making the HBIIP awards in California, Florida,
Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York,
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.
Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has
invested approximately $135 million to increase access to biofuels at
fueling stations. In June 2023, USDA made $450 million available in
Inflation Reduction Act funding through the HBIIP to expand the use and
availability of higher-blend biofuels.
USDA continues to accept applications for funding to expand
access to domestic biofuels. These grants will support the infrastructure
needed to reduce out-of-pocket costs for transportation fueling and
distribution facilities to install and upgrade biofuel-related
infrastructure such as pumps, dispensers and storage tanks. Applications
are being accepted quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024.
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. 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. To
subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many
positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming
America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and
regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access
to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new
markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart
food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure
and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity
across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a
workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov. |