The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $285 million in infrastructure to lower energy costs, expand access to clean energy for rural Americans and combat climate change.
An additional $300 million will be available under the Rural Energy for America Program that includes $250 million through the Inflation Reduction Act, a Dec. 15 new release said.
“People in rural America are on the front lines of climate change, and our communities deserve investments that will strengthen our country’s resilience,” U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release. “President Biden has created a roadmap for how we can tackle the climate crisis and expand access to renewable energy infrastructure, all while creating good-paying jobs and saving people money on their energy costs. These investments underscore the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to providing funding and resources to rural people and communities across the country to help drive economic security and prosperity.”
The Rural Energy for America Program helps farmers, entrepreneurs and ag producers “purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements,” the release said. The USDA will make 844 investments through the program.
According to the release, the deadline for grant applications is March 31, 2023. Technical assistance application grants are due Jan. 31, 2023. Loan guarantee applications are accepted year-round. Local USDA Rural Development state energy coordinators will have more information.
