The USDA will invest over $600,000 through the Inflation Reduction Act in clean energy projects across Montana.

The Rural Energy for American Program is investing $256 million to support 1,100 renewable energy projects in 40 states, 15 of which are Montana recipients.

The Montana recipients will receive funding to install solar arrays, energy-efficient heating systems and other improvements that aim to reduce energy consumption and lower costs.

The following Montana projects are funded by REAP:

• CM Property Management LLC, $31,000, This Rural Development investment will be used to help purchase and install a 20.0 kilowatt (kW) solar array for CM Property Management LLC in Hot Springs, Montana, to reduce business operational expenses. This project is expected to save $4,909 per year. It will replace 25,818 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power two homes.
• Jordan Homestead LLC, $39,812, This Rural Development investment will help purchase and install a 20.16 kW solar array for Jordan Homestead LLC, an agricultural producer in Ronan, Montana. This project is expected to save $2,201.73 per year. It will replace 27,115 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power two homes.
• Lower Valley Processing Inc, $26,255, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install refrigerator and freezer component replacements for Lower Valley Processing Inc., a meat processing company, in Kalispell, Montana. This project is expected to save $3,066.00 per year. It will save 94,200 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power nine homes.
• K & T Cabinets LLC, $39,066, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 22.68 kilowatts (kW) solar array with battery storage for K&T Cabinets LLC, a custom cabinet manufacturing business, in Polson, Montana. This project is expected to save $2,776.36 per year. It will replace 24,783 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power two homes.
• Legacy Bike Park LLC, $34,705, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 10.08 kilowatt (kW) solar array with battery storage for Legacy Bike Park LLC, a bike park company, in Lakeside, Montana. This project is expected to save $2,352.00 per year. It will replace 8,088 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year.
• Pioneer Meats Inc., $62,682, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 58.5 kW solar photovoltaic system for Pioneer Meats Inc., a meat processing facility, located in Big Timber, Montana. The project is expected to save $38,689 in annual energy costs. This will generate 88,346 kilowatts (kW) in energy savings or enough electricity to power eight homes.
• Slicks Auto LLC., $12,691, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 12.6 kilowatts (kW) solar photovoltaic system for Slicks Auto LLC, an automotive repair business, located in Belgrade, Montana. The project is expected to save $1,862 in annual energy costs. This will generate 17,830 kilowatts (kW) in energy savings or enough electricity to power two homes.
• Helena Montana Associates LLC., $39,000, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 42 kilowatts (kW) solar photovoltaic system for Callaghan Properties LLC, dba Copper City Strength & Conditioning, a gymnasium located in Butte, Montana. The project is expected to save $3,143 in annual energy costs. This will generate 47,101 kilowatts (kW) in energy savings or enough electricity to power four homes.
• Butte Elks Partnership LLC, $89,626, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install an energy efficient boiler and make heating system upgrades for Butte Elks Partnership LLC, located in Butte, Montana. The project is expected to save $3,710 in annual energy costs. This will generate a savings of 20.34 percent.
• J Bar L. Ranches LLC, $99,096, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 31.92 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system with backup for J Bar L Ranches LLC, located in Melville, Montana (location of the sites is in Lima, Montana). The project is expected to save $3,143 in annual energy costs. This will generate 40,800 kilowatts (kW) in energy savings or enough electricity to power four homes.
• Ralph Kaye Miller, $149,750, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 73.72 kW Ground Mount Solar and Solar Pumping system for Ralph Miller, a Cattle and Horse Ranch, located in White Sulphur Springs, Montana. The project is expected to save $35,235 in annual energy costs and generate 96,152 kWh, enough energy to power nine homes.
• Laramie J. Olson, $26,381, This Rural Development investment will be used to help Laramie J. Olson, a sole proprietor rural agriculture producer in Grass Range, Fergus County, Montana purchase and install costs of a 24.25 kW solar PV array. The system will replace 100 percent of the energy used by the business, saving the applicant $2,893 annually. The energy replaced will be enough to power one residence.
• Lewis Heating and A/C LLC, $98,382, This Rural Development investment will be used to help Shaylee and Thomas Lewis, owners of Lewis Heating and A/C LLC, purchase and install insulation for their business building in Havre, Montana. The energy efficiency improvement will save the business $1,190 annually. The energy saved is enough to power two homes.
• JWK Enterprises LLC, $20,008, This Rural Development investment will be used to help JWK Enterprises LLC, a beef cattle operation in Bridger, Montana, install a new 16.4 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This project is expected to save $2,527 per year. It will replace 18,055 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100 percent of the company’s energy use) per year.
• Excellence Unlimited LLC, $48,033, This Rural Development investment will be used to help Excellence Unlimited, a seamless gutter and siding operation in Laurel, Montana, install a 13.65 kW solar photovoltaic system. This project is expected to save $1,632.90 per year. It will replace 15,669 kilowatt hours (kWh) (26 percent of the company’s energy use) per year.

USDA Rural Development Montana sent out the following:

USDA Rural Development has announced investments of more than $600,000 in clean energy projects across Montana, aimed at reducing operational costs and supporting energy efficiency for farms and rural small businesses. These investments are part of the Administration’s commitment to addressing climate change and promoting economic development in rural areas through the Inflation Reduction Act.

Nationwide, USDA is investing more than $256 million in loans and grants to support over 1,100 renewable energy projects in 40 states through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). In Montana, 15 recipients are receiving a combined $600,101 in cost-sharing to install solar arrays, energy-efficient heating systems, and other improvements that will help reduce energy consumption and lower costs.

“These projects are just one example of how the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act is providing much-needed resources to rural communities,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “By investing in clean energy solutions, we’re helping farmers, ranchers, and small business owners reduce their energy costs and take meaningful steps to address climate change. This is about building a stronger, more sustainable future for rural America.”

“Thanks to historic funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, USDA Rural Development is helping Montana farmers and small business owners reduce their energy costs and improve their operations,” said Kathleen Williams, USDA Rural Development state director for Montana. “These projects are not only good for our climate future, but they also create jobs and strengthen the economic vitality of our rural communities.”

The REAP program provides grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. Most of the projects announced today are funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, which represents the largest federal investment in clean energy and climate action in U.S. history.

Montana Projects Funded by REAP:

– CM Property Management LLC, $31,000, This Rural Development investment will be used to help purchase and install a 20.0 kilowatt (kW) solar array for CM Property Management LLC in Hot Springs, Montana, to reduce business operational expenses. This project is expected to save $4,909 per year. It will replace 25,818 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power two homes.

– Jordan Homestead LLC, $39,812, This Rural Development investment will help purchase and install a 20.16 kW solar array for Jordan Homestead LLC, an agricultural producer in Ronan, Montana. This project is expected to save $2,201.73 per year. It will replace 27,115 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power two homes.

– Lower Valley Processing Inc, $26,255, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install refrigerator and freezer component replacements for Lower Valley Processing Inc., a meat processing company, in Kalispell, Montana. This project is expected to save $3,066.00 per year. It will save 94,200 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power nine homes.

– K & T Cabinets LLC, $39,066, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 22.68 kilowatts (kW) solar array with battery storage for K&T Cabinets LLC, a custom cabinet manufacturing business, in Polson, Montana. This project is expected to save $2,776.36 per year. It will replace 24,783 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power two homes.

– Legacy Bike Park LLC, $34,705, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 10.08 kilowatt (kW) solar array with battery storage for Legacy Bike Park LLC, a bike park company, in Lakeside, Montana. This project is expected to save $2,352.00 per year. It will replace 8,088 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year.

– Pioneer Meats Inc., $62,682, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 58.5 kW solar photovoltaic system for Pioneer Meats Inc., a meat processing facility, located in Big Timber, Montana. The project is expected to save $38,689 in annual energy costs. This will generate 88,346 kilowatts (kW) in energy savings or enough electricity to power eight homes.

Slicks Auto LLC., $12,691, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 12.6 kilowatts (kW) solar photovoltaic system for Slicks Auto LLC, an automotive repair business, located in Belgrade, Montana. The project is expected to save $1,862 in annual energy costs. This will generate 17,830 kilowatts (kW) in energy savings or enough electricity to power two homes.

Helena Montana Associates LLC., $39,000, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 42 kilowatts (kW) solar photovoltaic system for Callaghan Properties LLC, dba Copper City Strength & Conditioning, a gymnasium located in Butte, Montana. The project is expected to save $3,143 in annual energy costs. This will generate 47,101 kilowatts (kW) in energy savings or enough electricity to power four homes.

– Butte Elks Partnership LLC, $89,626, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install an energy efficient boiler and make heating system upgrades for Butte Elks Partnership LLC, located in Butte, Montana. The project is expected to save $3,710 in annual energy costs. This will generate a savings of 20.34 percent.

– J Bar L. Ranches LLC, $99,096, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 31.92 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system with backup for J Bar L Ranches LLC, located in Melville, Montana (location of the sites is in Lima, Montana). The project is expected to save $3,143 in annual energy costs. This will generate 40,800 kilowatts (kW) in energy savings or enough electricity to power four homes.

– Ralph Kaye Miller, $149,750, This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 73.72 kW Ground Mount Solar and Solar Pumping system for Ralph Miller, a Cattle and Horse Ranch, located in White Sulphur Springs, Montana. The project is expected to save $35,235 in annual energy costs and generate 96,152 kWh, enough energy to power nine homes.

Laramie J. Olson, $26,381, This Rural Development investment will be used to help Laramie J. Olson, a sole proprietor rural agriculture producer in Grass Range, Fergus County, Montana purchase and install costs of a 24.25 kW solar PV array. The system will replace 100 percent of the energy used by the business, saving the applicant $2,893 annually. The energy replaced will be enough to power one residence.

– Lewis Heating and A/C LLC, $98,382, This Rural Development investment will be used to help Shaylee and Thomas Lewis, owners of Lewis Heating and A/C LLC, purchase and install insulation for their business building in Havre, Montana. The energy efficiency improvement will save the business $1,190 annually. The energy saved is enough to power two homes.

– JWK Enterprises LLC, $20,008, This Rural Development investment will be used to help JWK Enterprises LLC, a beef cattle operation in Bridger, Montana, install a new 16.4 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This project is expected to save $2,527 per year. It will replace 18,055 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100 percent of the company’s energy use) per year.

– Excellence Unlimited LLC, $48,033, This Rural Development investment will be used to help Excellence Unlimited, a seamless gutter and siding operation in Laurel, Montana, install a 13.65 kW solar photovoltaic system. This project is expected to save $1,632.90 per year. It will replace 15,669 kilowatt hours (kWh) (26 percent of the company’s energy use) per year.