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USDA announces REAP awards for farm digesters

August 27, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced funding for 631 projects across the nation that will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce their energy consumption and costs, use renewable energy technologies in their operations, and conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy projects.

Grant and loan funding is made available through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.

REAP helps producers reduce energy costs and increase production efficiency. Under the terms of REAP, up to 25 percent of an eligible energy production or conservation project can be funded through a grant, and additional support can be provided in the form of a loan. Since the start of the Obama Administration, REAP has helped fund nearly 7,000 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide.  With today’s announcement, USDA is making investments of more than $21 million in energy projects nationwide.

REAP offers financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. These federal funds leverage other private funding sources for businesses. REAP also helps the conservation of natural resources and the development of new forms of energy that reduces America’s dependence on fossil fuels and creates a stronger rural economy.

Four REAP grant recipients are using funds to construct or install anaerobic digesters at their sites:

• Dovetail Energy, LLC (Ohio) – Construction of an anaerobic digester
• Green Lane Energy, Inc. (Oregon) – Construction of an anaerobic digester
• Statz Brothers (Wisconsin) – Purchase and installation of an additional anaerobic digester
• Butler Farms (North Carolina) – Improvements for an anaerobic digester

 View the current list of recipients for REAP grants and loans, or visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_Grants.html for more information about the REAP program.

Please note that some states are still in the process of finalizing REAP awards and another message will be distributed when those awards have been announced.