AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VILSACK ANNOUNCES $62.5 MILLION FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY LOANS AND GRANTS
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the department is providing $62.5 million in loans and grants for 705 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in 45 states and Puerto Rico under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), an important initiative to help rebuild and revitalize rural America.
"President Obama and I are committed to helping rural businesses become more energy efficient - it's good for the economy, good for the environment, and good for the workers and customers who depend on the goods and services these businesses provide," Vilsack said. "While the REAP grants will continue to provide an important jump start to a clean, renewable energy future, Congress must act to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation to create the green jobs our economy needs and get our nation on the path to being truly energy independent."
Renewable energy funding from USDA has helped many rural businesses. For example, Meadowbrook Acres Inc. of Milton, Vt., used a $4,148 USDA grant to install a reverse osmosis system in fall 2007. The system has been operating well and has already saved Meadowbrook 3,884 gallons of fuel oil while producing 1,011 gallons of maple syrup. A reverse osmosis system takes water out of the maple sap, which reduces boiling time during the syrup production.
For this round of funding, USDA has selected Michael Satterstrom, in Cottage Grove, Ore., for a $13,380 grant to install a solar photovoltaic system at his farm. The system will generate 8,400 kilowatts of electricity and reduce the farm's energy usage by nearly 60 percent annually.
In Newton, Kan., WK Real Estate LLC has been selected for a $3,670 grant to install new energy efficient lighting. This project highlights the fact that replacing existing lighting with energy efficient lighting is one of the easiest measures businesses can take to reduce their utility bills. Rural Development's grant will enable WK Real Estate to lower its electric bill by more than 50 percent.
REAP loan guarantees and grants can be used for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, feasibility studies and energy audits. More information on the REAP program, which was authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill, is at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/index.html. Funding of each recipient is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant agreement. The following is a complete list of REAP recipients announced today. All awards are grants unless otherwise noted.
Alabama:
Rickey Pack Farm - $12,500
Alaska:
Choggiung, Ltd. - $20,000
Klauder & Company Architects, Inc. - $4,800
Laida Alpacas - $4,100
Ship Captain's View - $4,800
Arizona:
DC Cattle Company, LLC - $17,964
English Ranch - $16,495
Humbolt Water System, Inc. - $19,773
Sycamore Ranch - $19,927
Valley Lodge - $13,424
Arkansas:
Green Technologies, Inc. - $9,850
Louise Morris - $5,835
Preston Smith - $16,132
Weitkamp Farms - $6,220
California:
Carl J. Kruppa dba Kruppa Farms - $19,747
J.T. Farms - $19,954
Live Oak Farms - $12,500
Pryor Farms, LLC - $13,270
Colorado:
Advance Canvas Designs, LLC - $13,071
Dan Merewether - $11,575
Finger Rock, LLC - $14,875
Jack's Grocery Store - $2,472
KR, LLC - $10,000
Niwot Corporation dba Specialty Products - $5,270
Telluride Energy, LLC - $20,000
Vagabond Community Partners, LLC - $11,916
Wagon Wheel Associated, Inc. $300,008 grant; $600,000 loan
Delaware:
Lost Creek Land & Cattle Company - $10,816
Vintage Metalwork, Inc. - $15,000
Georgia:
Adam Nguyen - $8,030
Alpha Energy - $378,219 grant; $600,000 loan
Carlock Farms, LLC - $17,263
Charlie Lindsey JR Farms - $13,613
Clay McDaniel Farms - $7,450
David Heard - $19,807
Dry Creek Farms - $4,662
Freddy Lott - $ 3,635
George Lohr Poultry - $2,983
Herrin Communities, Inc. - $20,000
Herrin Family Farm LLP - $4,392
Howard Swanson, Jr. - $20,000
J.C. Thaggard - $8,629
James Bradley - $12,822
Jerry & Jeff Heard Farms - $13,159
Lumsden Properties, LLC - $18,998
Pedenville-Pike Properties, LLC - $19,932
Persimmon Creek Vineyards - $18,414
Pineview Peanut Company - $7,211
Pippin Farms, LLC - $19,850
West Wind Farm - $20,000
Hawaii:
Dean Wilhelm dba Kapunawaiola - $19,395
Hirako Farms, Inc. - $18,375
Kona Natural Soap Company, LLC - $7,538
Idaho:
Bart Christensen - $3,991
Danso, LLC - $19,151
Dart's True Value - $2,436
Fischer Hardware, Inc. - $1,770
GTBC, LLC - $8,750
JCH, Inc. dba Grocery Outlet - $6,975
LSI, LLC - $11,276
Lynch Land Development - $20,000
May Hardware, Inc. - $4,779
Peter Lewis Enterprises, Inc. - $7,077
Standlee Hay Incorporated - $8,730
Ten Cascade, Inc. - $5,188
Varley Farms, Inc. - $20,000
Whistle Stop - $1,696
Illinois:
Alan Dale - $35,318 grant; $35,318 loan
Alan Streitmatter - $48,338 grant, $48,338 loan
Andy Hunt - $49,799 grant, $49,799 loan
Bomke Farms - $19,939
Brian Bonneur - $17,895
Brian Loeffler - $33,467 grant; $66,935 loan
Brian Wenzel - $36,399 grant; $36,399 loan
Burgener Farms - $19,314
C. Richard Baum, III - $24,019 grant; $48,038 loan
Carl Neubauer - $19,875
D&G Stauffenberg Farms, Inc. - $49,916 grant, $49,916 loan
Danville Gardens, Inc. - $17,731
Darren Schnitker - $19,999
David Vietmeier - $32,497 grant; $32,497 loan
Dean Bacon and Beef - $14,139
Devries Farms - $19,881
Doug Mitchell - $50,000 grant, $50,000 loan
Golden Brothers - $49,908 grant; $49,908 loan
Grain Farms Incorporated - $14,998
Grubbs Farms, Inc. - $32,119 grant; $49,303 loan
Hendren Farm Partnership - $19,880
Jeffrey Lane - $26,498 grant; $26,498 loan
John & Julie Bickelhaupt - $9,951
John Clelend - $9,608
John Hartman - $20,000
John Murphy - $41,159 grant; $82,319 loan
Kendrick Farm, Inc. - $19,691
Kirk Anderson - $17,355
Larry Kirkman - $49,769 grant, $49,769 loan
Mark Burrow - $20,000
Mark Carlson - $17,151
Matthew Frieden - $36,701 grant; $47,345 loan
Mid American Growers, Inc. - $375,000 grant; $750,000 loan
Monument Farms Three Gen, LLC - $290,250 grant; $501,000 loan
Morse Farm, Inc. - $9,589
Paul A. Lahar - $12,028
Paul M. Palmer - $4,128
Paul Sachs - $15,271
Priscilla White - $9,768
Robert P. Lemire - $12,178
Stephen M. Tetreault - $9,943
Vermont Maple Sugar Company, Inc. - $4,474
Walter Gladstone - $20,000
William Maclay Architects & Planners - $33,912 grant; $67,824 loan
Virginia:
Associated Farms, Inc. - $19,580
Turman Hardwood Flooring, Inc. - $19,756
Washington:
Farm Power Lynden, LLC - $500,000 grant; $2,400,000 loan
Les Richardson - $20,000
Tapenade, Inc. dba Wilridge Vineyard - $20,000
Wisconsin:
All Trades Farms, LLC - $20,000
Artic Supply, Inc. - $18,951
Fountain Chateau, LLC - $12,270
Freedom Solar, LLC - $14,505
Ganske's Bed-N-Biscuit, LLC - $20,000
Gerald J. Kuehn - $16,072
Gregory White - $20,000
Kran Enterprises, LLC - $17,430
Leibfried Farms, Inc. - $38,830 grant; $38,830 loan
Seven Seeds Farm, LLC - $16,153
Terry Lee Birling - $20,000
Wyoming:
Ace Hardware - $4,975
Jackson Mattress Shop & Furniture Company - $2,608
USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development fosters growth in homeownership, finances business development and supports the creation of critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting www.rurdev.usda.gov .
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
