By Blake Jackson
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has announced that over a dozen Wisconsin farmers and rural businesses are set to receive more than $24 million in funding to support energy efficiency upgrades. These funds aim to help businesses cut energy costs, improve operational resilience, and adopt cleaner energy practices.
“Investing in these energy upgrades is a win-win for our Made in Wisconsin businesses who are saving money and increasing the resiliency of their operations,” said Senator Baldwin. “I know our farms and small businesses – particularly in rural areas – drive our economy, and I am working hard to help them cut their energy costs, increase their efficiency, and continue to support the livelihoods of so many hard-working Wisconsinites.”
The funding comes through the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which received a $2 billion boost under the Inflation Reduction Act. REAP provides grants and loans to assist agricultural producers and small rural businesses in transitioning to renewable energy sources and implementing energy efficiency improvements.
Earlier this year, Baldwin announced REAP grants for over 50 Wisconsin farms. Today's announcement includes an additional 13 farms and businesses that have been awarded REAP funding, adding to the over $5 million in support provided earlier this year.
Some highlights of the projects funded by REAP grants and loans include:
Spring Lake Farms Inc. in Marquette County received an $84,002 grant to purchase and install an energy-efficient grain dryer, expected to save the farm $15,086 annually.
Tinedale Project LLC in Brown County was awarded a $22,638,000 loan to develop a dairy manure anaerobic digester. This digester will capture and convert methane into renewable natural gas, which will then be distributed through a local utility pipeline. This project will create three jobs.
Fairway to Heaven LLC in Calumet County received a $91,553 grant for installing a small solar electric array. This system is projected to save $3,105 per year in energy costs.
Knutson Family Farms Inc. in Pierce County was granted $203,096 to install a more efficient grain dryer, which will save the farm $22,670 annually. The project is expected to reduce energy use by 69%, saving enough energy to power 46 homes.
MacDonald & Owen Veneer and Lumber Co. in Polk County received a $747,432 grant to install a solar electric array. This rural small business in Luck, Wisconsin, expects the project to save $113,355 per year. It will replace 1,352,565 kilowatt hours (kWh)—100% of the business’s energy use—annually, equivalent to powering 124 homes.
These investments, made possible through the REAP program, reflect Wisconsin’s commitment to sustainable energy practices and economic support for its agricultural sector.
Photo Credit: pexels-karolina-grabowska
Categories: Wisconsin, Business, Energy