“This grant funding will invest directly in farmers, business owners, and cooperatives, helping lower energy costs and increase sustainability. With initiatives like these, together, we can continue our path forward to build a more resilient and prosperous future for people living and operating businesses in rural Wisconsin.”
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa today announced that the Department is investing nearly $93 million through the Rural Energy for America (REAP) and the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) programs in rural communities to lower energy costs and create jobs in Wisconsin.
“Through the commitment of the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is investing in expanding renewable energy systems in rural communities across Wisconsin,” Lassa said. “This grant funding will invest directly in farmers, business owners, and cooperatives, helping lower energy costs and increase sustainability. With initiatives like these, together, we can continue our path forward to build a more resilient and prosperous future for people living and operating businesses in rural Wisconsin.”
Through the REAP program, $1.3 million in USDA Rural Development grants will bolster the efforts of 21 rural Wisconsin businesses to adapt or expand clean energy use. Among the REAP projects announced are several solar arrays, high efficiency LED lighting, a wind turbine, and a grain drying system. For example:
- In Outagamie County, Full Circle Community Farm will use its $40,850 REAP grant to install a wind turbine in Seymour. This project is expected to save the farm $8,000 in electrical costs per year and replace 40,000 kilowatt hours (80 percent of the farm’s energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power three homes.
- In Trempealeau County, Rotering Ridge Farms LLC will use its $55,374 REAP grant to help install a new grain drying system in Arcadia. This project is expected to save the farm $6,800 in electrical costs per year and replace 83,500 kilowatt hours (60 percent of the farm’s energy use for grain drying) per year, which is enough energy to power seven homes.
- In Oneida County, Cedar Falls Solar LLC will use its $696,396 REAP grant to install a solar electric array in Rhinelander. The project is expected to earn $140,000 per year by generating 1.7 million kilowatt hours per year, which is enough energy to power 159 homes.
Funding for the projects announced today in Wisconsin is part of $104 million that USDA has so far announced in REAP loans and grants that will support over 300 clean energy projects in 34 states.
Additionally, USDA is investing $91.5 million through the PACE program for solar photovoltaic generation at two sites in La Crosse County and 22 solar arrays in Dane County.
- In La Crosse County, Dairyland Power Cooperative plans to use a $15.6 million investment to finance the installation of 2 megawatts of solar photovoltaic generation at two sites, which will be connected to a 4 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system in western Wisconsin. This is enough electricity to power up to 1,000 homes. Dairyland Power Cooperative supports Wisconsin communities participating in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Rural Partners Network (RPN).
- In Dane County, Stag Moose Solar LLC plans to use a $75.9 million investment to finance 22 ground-mounted solar arrays that will produce 62.75 megawatts of renewable energy in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, which is enough electricity to power approximately 16,000 homes.
