U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that USDA is partnering with farmers and small businesses to “expand access to clean energy and lower energy bills” through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Rural Energy for America Technical Assistance Grant Program.
Three of the grants are going to projects in three northeast Georgia counties: Banks, Stephens, and Towns.
Here’s a breakdown of those grants:
*T&S Farms Banks County LLC $158,503. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase
and install a 152 kilowatt (kW) solar array. T&S Farms Banks County LLC is a poultry farm in Homer. This project will realize $22,514 per year in savings and will replace 204,677 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year,
enough to power 18 homes.
*Maple Ridge Homes Inc. $158,713. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase
and install a 150.93 kilowatt (kW) solar array. Maple Ridge Homes Inc. is a small business in Toccoa. This project will realize $6,148 per year in savings and will replace 210,111 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year,
enough to power 19 homes.
*Tiny South LLC $16,068. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase and install a 5.74 kilowatt (kW) solar array. Tiny South LLC is an accounting firm in Young Harris. This project will realize $963 in savings and replace 7,434 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, enough energy to power one home.
According to a USDA news release, the agency is investing $163 million in loans, grants and technical assistance that will support 338 clean energy projects in 39 States and Guam. Many of the projects are funded by the Inflation Reduction Act which is aimed at “combating the climate crisis.”