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USDA Awards $2.1M to Arkansas Farmers and Small Businesses for Energy Upgrades

4 min read

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday announced that it’s awarding $2.1 million in grants to Arkansas farmers and small businesses in rural communities to expand access to clean energy and improve energy efficiency.

The money is a portion of $104 million awarded to support over 300 clean energy initiatives in 34 states through the Rural Energy for America program. In a news release, the USDA said that by funding energy innovations, the program helps agricultural producers and small business owners increase their income, grow their businesses and address climate change while lowering energy costs.

Many of the projects are funded by the 2021 Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

“As drivers of our economy, farmers and rural business owners deserve affordable energy,” USDA Deputy Secretary Torres Small said in the release.

The grant amounts and recipients in Arkansas are listed below.

State Senators Representatives Program Recipient Loan Grant Project Description
AR John Boozman, Tom Cotton Steve Womack (03) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) – Technical Assistance Community Venture Foundation $250,000 This Rural Development investment will be used to help Community Venture Foundation (dba Startup Junkie Foundation) provide Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) application assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses in all seventy-five counties in Arkansas. Potential applicants will be given information on how to improve the energy efficiency of their operations, and how to use renewable energy technologies and resources in their operations. REAP application assistance will include guidance with System for Award Management (SAM) registrations, preparing technical reports, conducting energy assessments and audits, and completing required environmental reports or documentation. Targeted projects include those located in a distressed or disadvantaged community, projects where the grant requests are $20,000 or less, and projects for agricultural producers.
AR John Boozman, Tom Cotton Rick Crawford (01) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) – Renewable and Energy Efficiency Program Parker Farm LLC $86,250 This Rural Development investment will be used to help Parker Farm LLC purchase and install a 75-kilowatt (kW) solar array for their poultry farm in Omaha, Arkansas. The project is expected to generate 104,044 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy annually, which is enough electricity to power nine homes. USDA Rural Development energy loans and grants help keep the lights on in homes, schools, and businesses across rural America.
AR John Boozman, Tom Cotton Rick Crawford (01) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) – Renewable and Energy Efficiency Program Mountain Home Lumber LLC $223,914 This Rural Development investment will be used to help Mountain Home Lumber LLC, a locally owned hardware and building supply operation in Mountain Home, Arkansas, purchase and install a 203-kilowatt (kW) solar array. This project is expected to save $12,672 and produce 262,443 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100 percent of historic usage) annually, which is enough electricity to power 24 homes.
AR John Boozman, Tom Cotton Rick Crawford (01) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) – Renewable and Energy Efficiency Program Whitaker Grain LLC $251,136 This Rural Development investment will be used to help Whitaker Grain LLC, a family-owned agricultural operation in Dermott, Arkansas, purchase and install a 288-kilowatt (kW) solar system. The energy generated from this project will offset electrical usage for on-site grain bins used for drying and storage. This project is expected to save $38,642 and replace 429,350 kilowatt hours (kWh) (66 percent of historical energy use) annually, which is enough electricity to power 39 homes.
AR John Boozman, Tom Cotton Rick Crawford (01) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) – Renewable and Energy Efficiency Program Keo Fish Farms Inc. $751,842 This is Rural Development investment will be used to help Keo Fish Farms Inc. install an 856.8-kilowatt (kW) solar array for their fish hatchery in Keo, Arkansas. This project is expected to save $109,995, and replace 1,221,288 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually, which is 99 percent of the business operation’s historic energy usage and enough electricity to power 113 homes.
AR John Boozman, Tom Cotton Rick Crawford (01) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) – Renewable and Energy Efficiency Program Dusty Lane Poultry Farm LLC $149,818 This Rural Development investment will be used to help Dusty Lane Poultry Farm LLC purchase and install a 161-kilowatt (kW) solar array for their poultry operations in Independence County, Arkansas. This project is expected to save $13,180 per year, and generate 219,682 kilowatt hours (kWh) (71 percent of historic use) annually, which is enough electricity to power 20 homes.
AR John Boozman, Tom Cotton Bruce Westerman (04) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) – Renewable and Energy Efficiency Program South Central Pallets Inc. $250,000 This Rural Development investment will be used to help South Central Pallets Inc., a pallet manufacturer in Hatfield, Arkansas, purchase and install a 207-kilowatt (kW) solar array. This project is expected to save $12,530 and replace 313,258 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually, which is enough electricity to power 29 homes.
AR John Boozman, Tom Cotton Rick Crawford (01) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable and Energy Efficiency Program Jared Smith $144,564 This Rural Development investment will be used to help Jared Smith install a 168-kilowatt (kW) solar array for his poultry operation in Batesville, Arkansas. This project is expected to save $9,547 and generate 232,736 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually, which is enough electricity to power 18 homes. USDA Rural Development energy loans and grants help keep the lights on in homes, schools, and businesses across rural America.
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