by 
(October 26, 2015—Phoenix, Arizona) A Casa Grande dairy farm was one of the businesses that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today would receive funding through the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Arizona received a total of nine grants, all in southern Arizona.
The Du Brook Dairy received a $122,207 REAP grant to help cover the cost of installing a solar photo voltaic system.
The nine Arizona grants were part of nearly $71 million in REAP grants announced today by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. In Arizona funding went to:
COMPANY
AMOUNT
FOR
AGRI-PACKING DISTRIBUTORS
$242,508
SOLAR
CORONADO FARMS
$116,800
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
DEL CAMPO SUPREME
$200,522
SOLAR
DU BROOK DAIRY
$122,207
SOLAR
EASTERN AZ AG CENTER
$49,843
SOLAR
MALENA PRODUCE
$200,973
SOLAR
RONALD TOLMAN CPA
$42,367
SOLAR
SUNIZONA FAMILY FARMS
$7,889
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
“More rural business owners and ag producers are incorporating energy-saving measures into their business plans,” Vilsack said. “These actions improve an operation’s bottom line and help reduce its carbon footprint. This funding will help incorporate renewable energy and energy efficiency technology and reduce energy costs. But beyond the local benefits seen by a company saving energy costs and the global benefits of reducing carbon emissions, this funding will also create American jobs by supporting energy production and efficiency installations that are made in rural America.”
Congress created the REAP program in the 2002 Farm Bill. Because of the success of the program, Congress reauthorized it in the 2014 Farm Bill with guaranteed funding of at least $50 million annually for the duration of the five-year bill.
Since the start of the Obama Administration, REAP has helped finance 10,753 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that have reduced energy costs for rural businesses nationwide. During this period, USDA has provided almost $360 million in grants and $430 million in loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small business owners. When operational, these projects will generate/save an estimated 8.4 million megawatt hours – enough to power more than 760,000 homes for a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. That’s the equivalent of removing more than 1 million cars from the road.
Funding of each award announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement.
Acting State Director Ernie Wetherbee reminded rural Arizona businesses that in addition to the grants announced today, USDA is currently accepting applications for future REAP funding.
Arizona Rural Business and Industry Program Director Gary Mack says application deadlines and details on how to apply for the REAP grants can be found by contacting USDA Arizona Energy Coordinator Gregg Humphries at 602-280-8767, or by going to page 60349 of the October 6 Federal Register.
President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
by by