USDA has more than $400M available for rural energy funding
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that more than $400 million is still available to help rural businesses lower their energy costs.
The USDA is encouraging farmers, small businesses, and agricultural producers to apply for financing that could help with renewable energy systems and energy efficiency upgrades.
The funding is provided through the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The funding may be used for systems such as anaerobic digesters, biomass, hydropower, geothermal, and more. It also may be used to upgrade heating, ventilation, and cooling systems as well as insulation, lighting, and refrigeration.
REAP has already provided funding to several applicants such as a loan to a Kentucky farm to install a photovoltaic array system on top of its ham processing facility, and a biogas project in North Carolina received $6.5 million for an anaerobic digester to help with waste disposal.
The USDA accepts applications for REAP funding year-round.