Today Maine’s First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced 16 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants and loans worth a total of $2.1 million for businesses in midcoast Maine. The infusion of rural development funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed by Congressional Democrats and signed by President Biden.
“I was proud to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which included over $10 billion for the rural utilities service, including over $2 billion for the Rural Energy for America Program. The truth is that rural development programs like REAP are oversubscribed because they are so necessary to the bottom-line of businesses like those receiving awards today. That’s why I have fought every Republican attempt to claw back IRA funds for rural renewable energy programs and pushed to increase their funding. Congratulations to all of these well-deserving Maine businesses which now have the resources to reduce their carbon footprints and cut their utility costs at the same time,” Pingree said at Cedarworks in Rockland, Maine, where she attended an event with Cindy Axne, USDA Senior Advisor for Rural Engagement, Delivery and Prosperity to celebrate the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments in clean energy for Maine farms and businesses.
Today’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Loan and Grant recipients in Maine’s 1st District include:
$170,496 grant for Eagle Industries Inc., a small metal fabrication business located in Hollis, York County, Maine, install a new 164.4 kilowatt (kW) roof-mount solar photovoltaic system. The system will generate 18,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) (88+ percent of the business energy use) per year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this is the equivalent to 87,9393 pounds of coal burned or 7,664 gallons of diesel consumed.
$23,795,000 loan guarantee for Vertical Harvest Maine L3C, to develop and operate a 51,000 square foot Controlled Environmental Agriculture hydroponic farm in Westbrook, Maine. The facility is expected to produce 2.3 million pounds of leafy greens each year and utilize equipment that will increase energy efficiency by more than 55 percent when compared to typical greenhouse practices. This funding, which includes a $25,000,000 Business and Industry loan guarantee, a $23,795,000 Rural Energy for America Program Energy Efficient Equipment loan guarantee, will be supplemented with a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy loan of $7,825,000 and a borrower contribution of $19,189,210. This project is expected to create 37 new jobs.
$48,687 grant to help Farmer Kev's Organic LLC, an organic vegetable farm located in West Gardiner (Kennebec County) install a 46.08 kilowatt (kW) ground mounted solar photovoltaic system. The system will generate 58,927 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100+ percent of the business energy use) per year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency this is the equivalent to 46,778 pounds of coal burned or 4,102 gallons of diesel consumed.
$43,150 grant to help Noyes Family Farm LLC, an eighth-generation dairy farm located in Albion (Kennebec County), Maine, install a 38.88 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. It will generate 49,880 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100+ percent of the business energy use) per year. The environmental benefits of the project include the equivalent of 4.5 homes taken off the grid, 39,596 pounds of coal not burned, or 7.9 gasoline-powered cars taken off the road.
$376,226 grant to help Cedarworks Inc., a manufacturer of children's play equipment located in Rockland, Knox County, Maine, install a 402.4 kilowatt (kW) roof mount solar photovoltaic system. It will generate 374,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) (80 percent of the business energy use) per year. The environmental benefits of the project include the equivalents of 51.6 homes taken off the grid, 297,291 pounds of coal not burned, or 59 cars taken off the road.
$18,076 to help 299 Grand Army LLC., a small real estate business located in Whitefield, Lincoln County, Maine, install a 14.985 kilowatt (kW) roof mount solar photovoltaic system. The system will generate 18,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) (100+ percent of the business energy use) per year. According to the EPA, this is the equivalent to 8,965 pounds of coal burned or 786 gallons of diesel consumed.
$17,663 to help Brunswick ANP LLC, a small real estate business located in Brunswick (Cumberland County), Maine, install a new 11.7 kilowatt (kW) roof mount solar photovoltaic system. The system will generate 13,455 kilowatt hours (kWh)(80+ percent of the business energy use) per year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this is the equivalent to 6,520 pounds of coal burned or 572 gallons of diesel consumed.
In addition to the 7 USDA loans and grants announced in Maine’s first District, 9 REAP grants and loans were announced in Maine’s second District.
