Key Takeaways:
- $4.3 million awarded to 42 Maine farms and small businesses for clean energy projects.
- The funding comes from the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) under the Inflation Reduction Act.
- REAP aims to lower energy costs and promote renewable energy in rural areas.
- The Biden-Harris Administration has invested over $2.2 billion in similar projects nationwide.
- Investments in clean energy help rural communities save on energy costs and combat climate change.
Governor Janet Mills and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that the Biden-Harris Administration has awarded $4.3 million in grants and loans to 42 Maine farms and small businesses. These funds are aimed at helping these entities lower their energy costs through clean energy investments and energy efficiency improvements.
Rural Energy for America Program
The funding is provided through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which the Inflation Reduction Act supports. REAP offers grants and loans to agricultural producers and rural small businesses, enabling them to improve energy efficiency and install renewable energy systems that save money and are more environmentally friendly.
Impact of REAP
Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invested more than $2.2 billion through REAP. This funding has supported 7,566 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, helping rural small businesses and farmers save an average of $25,000 a year on energy bills. In Maine alone, approximately $231 million has been invested in 200 projects.
Statements from Officials
Governor Janet Mills praised the initiative, stating, “This investment from the Biden-Harris Administration will help Maine farms and small businesses install renewable energy systems that will save them money and protect our environment – a win-win. In turn, our farms and small businesses can take their savings and invest them back into their operations and employees so they can grow and thrive.”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack emphasized the administration’s commitment to rural communities, saying, “The Biden-Harris Administration is partnering with people in rural communities across our nation to expand access to clean energy and save rural Americans money. 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.”
Broader Benefits and Goals
U.S. Senator Angus King highlighted the importance of investing in clean energy solutions, noting, “Maine’s farmers and small businesses are the backbone of our rural, tight-knit communities and economies. This grant from the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) will play a big role in combating climate change while also saving folks money.”
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree added, “The Inflation Reduction Act marks the most significant investment in rural electrification since the 1936 Rural Electrification Act. Thanks to this landmark legislation, the Rural Energy for America Program is helping businesses and producers in Maine and across the country reduce their carbon footprints and cut their utility costs at the same time.”
