Nebraska Ag Connection - USDA to Support 40 Nebraska Renewable Energy Projects

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USDA to Support 40 Nebraska Renewable Energy Projects
Nebraska Ag Connection - 10/26/2016

USDA Rural Development Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul announced the awarding of nearly $962,000 in grants for 40 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that are supported through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

"Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects supports rural and local energy sources. Energy creates jobs, reduces greenhouse gas pollution and aligns us for a more secure energy future," said Moul.

The projected energy savings from the announced projects is equivalent to the amount required to power 345 homes. Siouxland Ethanol, LLC will produce enough energy to fuel 6,775 vehicles. Funding for the projects is contingent upon the recipients meeting the terms of the grant agreement.

The recipients, and their counties, are:

Adams

- Thoar, LLC - $10,399 - Replace lighting, doors, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, add insulation, infiltration improvements

Antelope

- Sharon Wilkinson - $6,150 - Diesel to electric motor conversion

- Elsie Coy - $14,455 - Propane to electric irrigation conversion

- Schindler Grain & Livestock, LLC - $6,726 - Diesel to electric motor conversion

Buffalo

- Jay Harnagel - $19,460 - Install a 25 kW solar array for grain drying

- B & C Siding & Construction, Inc. - $19,750 - Install a 25kW solar array

- Kent Schroeder - $2,957 - Replace inefficient windows

- Mike Adams - $3,534 - Install a 0.38 kW solar stock well system

- Adam's Corner Market - $14,138 - Replace freezers and two rooftop air conditioning units

Burt

- Gary Powell - $12,170 - Install 24.4 kW solar array

- Gregory Brummond - $9,927 - Install 10 kW solar array

Cedar

- Cedar View Country Club, Inc. - $4,722 - Windows and insulated siding

Cuming

- Ru-De's Mart, Inc. - $10,940 - Freezer replacement

Custer

- Kimball Farms, Inc. - $19,923 - Install a 25 kW solar array for ag buildings and grain dryer

- John Blakeman - $18,600 - Install 25 kW solar array

- Rodney Eugene Ross - $18,600 - Install 25 kW solar array

- D L Partnership, LTD - $16,601 -- Electric irrigation motor conversion, underground pipe, and well

Dakota

- Siouxland Ethanol, LLC - $500,000 - Install additional fermenter and cooling tower and upgrade existing beer masher unit

Franklin

- Nicholas Haack - $7,683 - Convert irrigation system from gravity to pivot, add underground pipe and wire and remove tree

Frontier

- Eustis Body Shop, Inc. - $4,317 - Direct use geothermal heat pump

Holt

- Rocking Diamond A Ranch, LLC - $3,115 - Diesel to electric irrigation motor conversion

Kearney

- Raun Farm, Inc. - $16,702 - Install 10kW solar array

Knox

- Robert Green - $3,854 - Diesel to electric irrigation motor conversion

- Ryan Ruzicka - $10,924 - Diesel to electric irrigation motor conversion

- The Blfd Closet, LLC - $8,268 - HVAC replacement and adding of insulation

Lincoln -DL Partnership, LTD - $2,854 - Six 110 W solar panels with submersible water pumps

Logan

- Stapleton Cooperative Market and Deli - $24,853 - Coolers, freezers and furnace

Merrick

- Donald Holmstedt - $11,520 - Install 10 kW solar panel array

Nemaha

- Merlyn Bender - $8,209 - Install waste heat recovery system

Perkins

- Osler Heritage, LLC - $10,114 - Natural gas to electric irrigation motor and pump conversion

Scotts Bluff

- Sarchet Ventures LLC-$17,900 - Install 24.96 kW solar array

- Edwin Hahn - $3,575 - Diesel to electric irrigation motor conversion

Sherman

- Robert Riessland - $15,897 - Diesel to electric irrigation motor conversion, abandon and replace well

- Bruce Slocum dba Litchfield Pack - $19,477 - Insulate coolers, replace condensers, and replace lighting

Valley

- Jade Wolfgang dba Wolfgang Grocery & Spirits - $10,651 - Replace coolers, HVAC, and lighting

York

- John S. Goertzen - $20,000 - Grain dryer replacement

- KLD, Inc. - $10,969 - Grain dryer replacement

- Harmony Nursery - $17,794 - Install a 25 kWh solar array

- Ron & Jerry's, Inc. - $5,750 - Install a 6.5 kW solar array

- JTG Farms, Inc. - $18,250 - Grain dryer replacement

Eligible agricultural producers and rural small businesses may use REAP funds to make energy efficiency improvements or install renewable energy systems, including solar, wind, renewable biomass (including anaerobic digesters), small hydroelectric, ocean energy, hydrogen, and geothermal.

Applications for renewable energy system and energy efficiency grants of $20,000 or less (25% of total eligible project costs) are due by Oct. 31 for the first funding cycle and March 31 for the second funding cycle. Grant requests for this round have a simplified, streamlined process and can be as low as $2,500 for renewable energy projects and $1,500 for energy efficiency projects. The next funding deadline will be March 31 for projects of any size with maximum grants limited to $500,000 for renewable energy projects and $250,000 for energy efficiency projects (25% of total eligible project costs).

Any eligible applications not funded during the October 31, 2017 funding cycle will be reconsidered. Applications for renewable energy system and energy efficiency guaranteed loans (up to 75% of total eligible project costs) are accepted at any time and compete on a monthly basis. The minimum guaranteed loan amount to a borrower is $5,000 and the maximum amount is $25 million. See page 71689 of the October 18 Federal Register for more information.

Congress created the REAP program in the 2002 Farm Bill and reauthorized it in the 2014 Farm Bill with guaranteed funding of at least $50 million annually for the duration of the five-year bill.

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