Renewable Energy Grants for Rural Businesses

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering grants of up to $50,000 to support feasibility studies of renewable energy installations for agricultural production facilities and rural small businesses.

From EERE Network News
September 29, 2010

Renewable Energy Grants
Image Gallery
Renewable energy systems eligible for USDA grants can be for the production heat, electricity or fuel.
PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO/ANDREW JOHNSON
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS

On Sept. 7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of grants of up to $50,000 for agricultural producers and small rural businesses to conduct feasibility studies for installing renewable energy systems. The proposed systems can produce heat, electricity or fuel. They must produce energy from renewable energy sources, such as wind energy, solar energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, hydropower or hydrogen-based sources. They must also be located in a rural area and owned by the applicant.

RELATED CONTENT

Under the Rural Energy for America Program, the USDA is making a total of $3 million available for the grants, which is sufficient to support at least 60 applicants. Applications are due Oct. 5.

The USDA also announced on Sept. 9 that it is awarding $1.9 million to Lincolnway Energy of Nevada, Iowa. The award will help the company modify a coal-fired boiler at its ethanol biorefinery to burn wood and other biomass. The award was made under the USDA’s Repowering Assistance Program, which makes payments to eligible biorefineries to encourage the use of renewable biomass as a replacement fuel source for fossil fuels. Authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill, the program is only available to biorefineries that were in existence when the bill was enacted on June 18, 2008.

Lincolnway Energy began making ethanol in 2006 and produces up to 60 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol per year at its facility.

Reprinted from EERE Network News, a free newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy. 

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print


Archived Comments

2147491253
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 72% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*


(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

MOTHER EARTH NEWS is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. MOTHER EARTH NEWS helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At MOTHER EARTH NEWS, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of MOTHER EARTH NEWS for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.
-->