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Over
200 Rural Illinois Businesses and Ag Producers Receive Over $25
Million in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grants
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[November 16, 2024]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., - U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Illinois State
Director Pam Monetti today announced that over 200 Illinois
businesses are receiving a combined $25.3 million in REAP grants to
expand access to clean energy, create jobs and help lower their
energy bills through the
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). This funding will help
small businesses and farms across the state implement cost-saving,
clean, efficient energy systems on their properties.
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 “USDA
is committed to ensuring farmers, ranchers and small businesses
are directly benefitting from the clean energy economy,” Monetti
said. “We know that people in rural Illinois bring ingenuity and
hard work to increasing renewable energy in their communities,
preparing them for a bright future, and that’s why investments
through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program are so
important. In fact, I’m proud to say the state of Illinois is
number 1 for REAP investments in this administration, receiving
over 970 awards that directly serve farmers and rural small
businesses across the state.”
Through REAP, USDA partners with agricultural producers and
small businesses to lower business costs through clean energy
and energy efficiency systems. In addition to today’s
investments, Monetti also announced the availability of an
additional $600 million nationwide in REAP funds that farmers
and small businesses can apply for by March 31, 2025.
Full list of
IL REAP round 7 project announcements.
IL Project Examples:
Clinton County: Maschoffs LLC received a $500K investment to
purchase and install energy-efficient heat mats to help with
their livestock operation. This project will realize more than
$294,700 per year in savings and will replace 1,958,213 kilowatt
hours (kWh) (39 percent) per year, which is enough energy to
power 180 homes.
Lake County: Golden Oaks Farm LLC received a $856K+ investment
to purchase and install an 898 kilowatt (kW) solar array for
their grain farm in Wauconda. This project will realize more
than $113,000 per year in savings and will replace 1,257,556
kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power
116 homes.
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Hancock County: Nauvoo Car Wash LLC received a $15K+
investment to purchase and install a 10 kilowatt (kW) solar array.
This project will yield more than $1,800 per year in savings and
will replace 15,119 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough
energy to power one home.
Montgomery County: Dajen Corp received a $278K+ investment to
purchase and install a more energy-efficient grain dryer for their
operation in Raymond, IL. This project will realize more than
$14,000 per year in savings and will replace 170,352 kilowatt hours
(kWh) (36 percent) per year, which is enough energy to power 15
homes.
Background: REAP Inflation Reduction Act Funding Availability
As part of today’s announcement, USDA will make available an
additional $600 million across three funding rounds from now until
2027.
During each funding round, the Department expects to make available
$180 million in general REAP funding and $20 million in set-aside
funding for underutilized renewable energy technology.
USDA is accepting applications in this first round through two
windows. The deadlines to apply are Dec. 31, 2024, and March 31,
2025. For additional information about the REAP funding
availability, see page 83449 of the Oct. 16
Federal Register or contact a local
energy coordinator.
[Text received from file]
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