USDA Helps Rural Agriculture Pursue Renewable Energy

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the department is funding 67 projects nationwide focused on helping rural agricultural producers reduce energy consumption and costs; use renewable energy technologies in their operation; and/or conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy projects.

Funding is made available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill. Undersecretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager made the announcement on behalf of Vilsack while attending the Pennsylvania meeting of the National Rural Electric Association (NRECA).

"The Obama administration is committed to making America more energy efficient, and in doing so, more competitive by encouraging rural businesses build renewable energy systems," said Tonsager. "The projects announced today will provide rural small businesses and agricultural producers the opportunity to conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy system installations. Eligible intermediaries, such as universities, will receive funds to conduct energy audits which will lead to energy savings and initiatives that will reduce energy consumption for years to come."

Tonsager said that Pennsylvania State University has been selected to receive a $99,676 grant for a statewide initiative offering technical assistance and workforce solutions through energy audits. Saint Francis University, also in Pennsylvania, was selected to receive $100,000 to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy consumption and cost through technical assistance provided by the university.

In Charleston, W. Va., the West Virginia Division of Energy has been selected to receive a $100,000 grant to complete 130 energy audits for rural small businesses. Boise State University in Idaho will receive a $100,000 grant to offer energy savings information and audits to more than 1,500 manufacturing-related agricultural producers and small business in the state.

Arbre Farms Corp. in Walkerville, Mich., will receive $7,000 to evaluate the feasibility of installing and operating an anaerobic digester. The device could produce and use biogas as a substitute for propane to power the farm's boilers.

Thursday’s announcement is in concert with an agreement signed by Vilsack in December 2009. During climate change talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, the secretary signed an agreement to help U.S. dairy producers cut greenhouse gas emissions. The arrangement between USDA and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy calls for the parties to work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farms by 25 percent by 2020.