Press Release
☷Biden Harris Administration Invests $207 Million in Clean Energy and Domestic Fertilizer Projects to Strengthen American Farms and Businesses as part of Investing in America Agenda
U.S. Department of Agriculture ( By Press Release office)
Jan 24,2024
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Hey , guess what? Today , Secretary Tom Vilsack of the U . S . Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) announced that they ' re putting $207 million into renewable energy and domestic fertilizer projects . The goal is to help lower energy bills , make some extra cash , create jobs , and give U . S . farmers and agricultural producers a competitive edge . And get this , a lot of this money is coming from President Biden ' s Inflation Reduction Act , which is the biggest investment ever made to fight the climate crisis . Secretary Vilsack made the announcement at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Salt Lake City , Utah . This funding is all part of President Biden ' s plan to boost the economy , create jobs , and promote clean energy in rural communities . It ' s all about making agriculture more competitive , cutting costs , and expanding renewable energy . Secretary Vilsack said , "President Biden and USDA are making sure that farmers , ranchers , and small businesses are not only part of the clean energy economy , but also benefiting from it . " So , today , the USDA is giving out $207 million to projects in 42 states through the Rural Energy for America Program ( REAP ) and the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program ( FPEP ) . The REAP awards alone total $157 million for 675 projects in 42 states . These investments are going to help farmers and ag producers save on energy costs , which means more money for jobs and growing their businesses . Let me give you a couple of examples: in Colorado ' s La Plata County , they ' re getting a grant of $187 , 000 to install a solar array that will benefit a wastewater treatment facility . This will save the facility $58 , 000 per year and reduce their energy use by 98% . And in Pennsylvania , a soybean farm is installing a 1 , 248 - kilowatt solar system that will save them $262 , 000 each year . That ' s money they can put back into the business or use to create more jobs in the community . Plus , it ' ll be enough energy to power 259 homes . Pretty cool , right?Sturgis Meats in Meade , South Dakota is gonna get a new fridge system that ' ll save ' em $32 , 000 in energy costs every year . It ' ll also save ' em 255 , 000 kilowatt hours per year , which is enough to power 23 homes . The FPEP is funding projects to help U . S . farmers make more fertilizer . They just invested $50 million in seven projects across seven states . President Biden ' s put up to $900 million through the Commodity Credit Corporation for FPEP . This funding will support long - term investments that strengthen supply chains , create new economic opportunities for American businesses , and promote climate - smart innovation . For example: ARE Properties LLC in Nebraska is building a fully automated fertilizer facility that ' ll make custom products based on plant and soil samples . All the equipment in the facility runs on natural gas , but they ' re planning to switch to alternative energy sources in the future . Biogas Corporation is buying and installing a new anaerobic digestion facility in Monroe County , North Carolina . This project is expected to create 19 new jobs . The facility will produce 50 , 000 tons of organic fertilizer and ammonium sulfate each year , which will be available to local farming operations or resellers . Through the combustion process , the facility will also generate 55 , 000 megawatts of clean energy per year , which will be sold and distributed by Duke Energy Carolinas . The USDA is awarding REAP and FPEP funds in a bunch of states , including Alabama , Alaska , Arizona , Arkansas , and many more . Since President Biden took office , the USDA has invested over $166 million in 40 projects across the country to boost domestic fertilizer production through FPEP . They ' ve also been supporting producers with nutrient management assistance and climate - smart practices . During that time , the USDA has invested over $1 . 6 billion through REAP in 5 , 457 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements for rural business owners . The Rural Energy for America Program ( REAP ) gives grants and loans to help ag producers and rural small business owners use more clean energy and make energy efficiency improvements . FPEP is part of a broader effort to help farmers increase production and tackle global food insecurity . It ' s also one of the ways the Administration is promoting fair competition , innovation , and resilience in the food and agriculture sector while addressing the climate crisis . These innovations help people increase their income , grow their businesses , address climate change , and lower energy costs for American families . The USDA is accepting REAP applications and will hold funding competitions every quarter until Sept . 30 , 2024 . They even have a portion of funding dedicated to underutilized renewable energy technologies . For more information on application deadlines and submission details , check out page 19239 of the March 31 Federal Register . The USDA has a positive impact on the lives of all Americans every day . Under the Biden - Harris Administration , they are transforming America ' s food system by focusing more on resilient local and regional food production , creating fairer markets for all producers , ensuring access to safe and healthy food in all communities , developing new markets and income streams for farmers using climate - smart practices , investing in rural infrastructure and clean energy , and promoting equity by removing barriers and building a more diverse workforce . To learn more , visit www . usda . gov . The Fertilizer Production Expansion Program ( FPEP ) provides grants to independent business owners so they can upgrade their equipment , adopt new technologies , and build production plants . This funding helps boost domestic fertilizer production , improve competition , and lower costs for U . S . farmers . FPEP was created by the Biden - Harris Administration and USDA to address rising fertilizer prices that have more than doubled between 2021 and 2022 due to various factors , such as the war in Ukraine and a lack of competition in the fertilizer industry . If you want to receive updates from USDA Rural Development , you can subscribe on their GovDelivery subscriber page . #USDA is an equal opportunity provider , employer , and lender .
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