USDA announces $1.4 million in new rural energy projects

By Blake Jackson

Bob Morgan, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for Rural Development, announced today that four new projects will receive funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), totaling $1.4 million.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is partnering with people in rural communities across our Commonwealth to expand access to clean energy and save rural Americans money,” Morgan stated. “We are hard at work, continuing what we've always done, supporting rural small businesses and farmers as they create jobs for their communities and drive economic prosperity.”

In Pennsylvania, several projects are set to benefit from this funding:

• Cambria County: Saint Francis University will receive a $100,000 REAP Renewable and Energy Audit Program grant to perform 26 renewable energy assessments for rural small businesses and agricultural producers throughout the state. These assessments aim to identify opportunities for installing renewable energy systems and improving energy efficiency, ultimately lowering energy costs and strengthening American energy independence.
• Northampton County: Northampton County Area Community College (NCC) is awarded $449,990 in REAP Technical Assistance funds. NCC will offer technical support, energy audits, and assessments to stakeholders seeking REAP Energy Efficiency Improvement funds. The focus will be on projects requesting $20,000 or less, particularly in distressed or disadvantaged communities and those involving agricultural producers.
• Juniata County: Reinford Farms Inc., a dairy and trucking operation, will utilize a $712,572 REAP grant to upgrade its anaerobic digester motor. The upgrade is expected to produce 3,705,000 kilowatt hours annually, sufficient to power 341 homes.
• York County: Mr. Storage, managed by Miller-Redding Partnership, will invest a $132,500 REAP grant in a 104.7-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system. This system will generate 129,191 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, enough for 11 homes.

In 2024, USDA Rural Development has supported 119 projects with $19 million, contributing $44 million in 366 projects since 2021 through the REAP program.

Many of these initiatives are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the largest-ever climate crisis investment, and align with the Investing in America Agenda to bolster the economy.

Photo Credit: usda