Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded 26 grants for nearly $1.9 million to help rural small businesses and agricultural producers across rural America conserve energy and develop renewable energy systems, ultimately reducing their carbon footprint, lowering overhead costs and helping to create jobs. The grants are made possible through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which helps farms and small businesses right-size their energy systems and helps with the installation costs for renewable energy equipment.

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REAP provides grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. (Photo: vencavolrab/Thinkstock)

"Helping thousands of rural small businesses, farmers and ranchers shift away from fossil-based energy by installing renewable energy systems and energy efficiency solutions has been one of the most important components of USDA's climate mitigation investments," Vilsack said. "Nationwide, Americans are lowering their carbon footprint and energy bills by being more energy efficient and switching to renewable energy, and USDA investments make more of these options available. The Rural Energy for America Program also helps businesses create jobs in their communities through the development and installation of energy efficiency and generation projects. These benefits ripple across the nation as we work toward energy independence and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change."

REAP provides grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements, grants for energy audits, and grants for renewable energy planning and development to service providers who work with farmers and rural small businesses. Rural Americans are saving more than 10.4 billion kWh – enough energy to power more than 959,000 American homes annually — because of USDA investments in renewable energy projects.

Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement.

Source: USDA