US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley recently announced that the US Department of Agriculture is sending nearly $2.2 million in Rural Energy for American Program (REAP) grants and close to $3.2 million in REAP loans to support renewable energy projects in Oregon.
The investments -- much like the $4.5 million for REAP projects the Senators announced in April -- will help farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses adopt renewable energy technologies, conduct critical energy audits, and cut costs and carbon pollution with energy efficiency improvements.
Wyden and Merkley said these projects will strengthen the resiliency of their operations and generate new income while boosting the economy in rural Oregon.
REAP investments coming to the state in this new wave of grants include $167,407 to help ASC LLC #1 purchase and install a 150 kilowatt roof-mounted solar PV on top of the Ashland Electric Services building that is owned by the City of Ashland.
Rocky Knoll LLC will receive $37,058 to purchase and install a 25.28 kilowatt roof-mounted solar PV on top of their building in Medford. Fred Gebhart Writing & Photography will get $18,018 to purchase and install a 5.6 kilowatt roof-mounted solar PV system on top of their office building in Gold Hill.
Since launching in 2008, the REAP program has proved essential to rural America by providing grants and loans to help agricultural producers and rural small business owners expand their use of solar, wind and other forms of clean energy and make energy efficiency improvements.
These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses and lower energy costs.
