By Blake Jackson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is promoting its "Investing in Rural America" initiative through a series of events, which includes providing grants to agricultural producers and small business owners in rural Pennsylvania. These grants, totaling over $21.8 million this fiscal year, fall under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The program is part of the Biden-Harris administration's efforts to invest in rural communities and support sustainability. Performance Toyota in Berks County received a $226,000 grant to install solar panels, which is expected to save approximately $28,600 annually and reduce energy consumption equivalent to powering 26 homes. Wen-Crest Farms LLC in Lebanon County received a $229,200 grant for a 243-kilowatt (kW) solar panel project that will save about $29,500 per year and replace 246,616 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually. The grants aim to support rural agricultural businesses in their efforts to cut costs, reduce traditional energy consumption, and minimize their environmental impact.
USDA Administrator of the Rural Business Cooperative Service, Dr. Karama Neal, emphasized the importance of investing in rural communities to provide tools for a good life. These grants are intended to help rural businesses and farmers reduce their energy consumption, cut costs, and promote environmental sustainability. The REAP program offers rural small business owners and farmers opportunities for energy audits and grants to develop renewable energy projects. The Inflation Reduction Act signed into law in August 2022 has made solar projects more appealing for customers and farmers, as it offers additional incentives. Programs like REAP enable farmers to view the financial payback of solar projects more favorably.
However, there have been concerns about the use of farmland for solar projects. Some elected officials and members of the agriculture community have proposed measures to prevent the use of prime farmland for solar installations. The USDA is expected to continue funding competitions quarterly through September 30, 2024, supporting rural communities' economic development and clean energy generation.
Elected officials and representatives from various government offices attended these events to show their support for the programs. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. State Sen. Judy Schwank, the minority chair of the PA Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, and state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, who entirely supports these programs, also expressed their backing. U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser's representative attended the event in Lebanon.
These grants align with the USDA's goal to invest in rural America and provide opportunities for sustainability and energy efficiency in rural communities. By supporting solar panel installations and renewable energy projects, these initiatives aim to reduce costs, enhance energy efficiency, and reduce environmental impact in rural areas.
Photo Credit: istock-shansekala
Categories: Pennsylvania, Energy