HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is partnering with farmers and small business owners to expand access to clean energy, create jobs and help lower energy bills through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). This funding includes 654 grants to help small businesses and farms across the country implement cost-saving, clean, efficient energy systems on their properties

USDA is investing $126 million in REAP grants to support clean energy projects in 39 states, Guam and Puerto Rico.

In this area, grant recipients include:

• Michael Redman, Lamberton, $437,771 to purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer. This project is expected to save the business $2,810 in annual electrical costs and will replace 48,793 kilowatt hours (54%) per year.
• Mark Rose Farms Inc., Alpha, $195,972 to purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer. This project is expected to save the business $8,925 in annual electrical costs and will replace 154,361 kWh (90%) per year, which is enough electricity to power 14 homes.
• Henning Family Farms LLC, Fulda, $309,380 to purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer. This project is expected to save the business $28,479 in annual electrical costs and will replace 336,522 kWh (62%) per year, which is enough electricity to power 31 homes.
• Brake Feedyards, Wilmont, $196,835 to purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer. This project is expected to save the business $42,494 in annual electrical costs and will replace 563,453 kWh (69%) per year, which is enough electricity to power 52 homes.
• Adam H. Christoffers, Brewster, $62,259 to purchase and install a 64.8-kilowatt solar array. This project is expected to save the business $8,032 in annual electrical costs and will replace 86,641 kWh per year, which is enough electricity to power eight homes.

“Farmers, rural business owners and electric cooperatives are the backbone of our economy, and we are partnering with them to expand their operations while creating jobs and lowering energy costs,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “The investments the Biden-Harris Administration are announcing will support rural communities as they transition to clean energy and drive economic prosperity … across this nation.”

USDA will make available an additional $600 million across three funding rounds from now until 2027. During each funding round, the USDA expects to make available $180 million in general REAP funding and $20 million in set-aside funding for underutilized renewable energy technology.

USDA is accepting applications in this first round through two windows. The deadlines to apply are Dec. 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025.