Report: USDA program helped hundreds of KY businesses become energy efficient
In Kentucky, 462 businesses, farms and schools have received $77 million in federal funding to boost energy efficiency through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy For America Program, according to a new report.
The program provides loan guarantees and grants to farmers and rural small businesses.
Quenton King, government affairs specialist for the group Appalachian Voices, said the program is critical for helping agricultural producers and those in the tourism economy keep operating costs down.
“We’re really grateful to the two Kentucky farms that agreed to talk with us, SouthDown farm in Letcher County and Sylvatica, a forest farm in Rockcastle County,” King pointed out. “Both of those farms got a REAP grant to build solar arrays on their property.”
SouthDown Farm in Letcher County received more than $7,000 from the program in 2020, enabling its owners to install a 20-kilowatt solar array. Sylvatica Forest Farm was awarded more than $11,000 in grant funding. Both businesses said the solar infrastructure will help reduce their energy consumption and lower their electric bills.
The infusion of an additional $2 billion for the program through 2031 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act will bring more energy efficiency and clean energy projects to Appalachia, King emphasized. He noted despite the funding boost, demand for the program continues to outpace available funding.
“We’re looking at a future where people might not be able to apply for projects, or get money for projects,” King projected. “That’s really disheartening.”
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