USDA sends $1.45 million to Pennsylvania for energy projects

(The Center Square) — The latest round of federal grants has sent $1.45 million to four projects in Pennsylvania to boost renewal energy and efficiency efforts.

Half of the money goes to Reinford Farms, a dairy farm and trucking business in Mifflintown to replace a motor for its anaerobic digester, which breaks down food and animal waste. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects it to produce enough biogas to power almost 350 homes, about 3.7 million kilowatt hours every year.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is partnering with people in rural communities across our nation to expand access to clean energy and save rural Americans money,” USDA Secretary Bob Vilsack said in a press release. “We are hard at work, continuing what we’ve always done, supporting rural small businesses and farmers as they create jobs for their communities and drive economic prosperity.”

The money is part of $163 million in loans, grants, and technical assistance provided to 39 states and Guam for 338 projects.

Northampton County Area Community College will get $500,000 to offer technical assistance for rural small businesses and farmers in the state for small energy projects in distressed and struggling communities.

In Hanover, the 102-unit storage facility Mr. Storage will get $133,000 to install a 105 kilowatt solar system, and another $100,000 will go to Saint Francis University in Cambria County to do 26 renewable energy assessments for rural small businesses and agricultural businesses. 

“This program strengthens American energy independence by increasing the private sector supply of renewable energy and decreasing the demand for energy through energy efficiency improvements,” the USDA said.

The money, part of the Rural Energy for America Program, has brought in millions to Pennsylvania. Usually focused on solar projects or efficiency upgrades, some funds have also gone to paving parking lots. In March, the USDA provided $6 million for solar projects and $5 million in January.

Other federal funds have boosted renewable energy in the state, like $156 million for Pennsylvania’s largest solar program in April.

For neighboring states, Ohio had 20 projects funded with $1.01 million; New Jersey received $451,000 for three projects; Maryland took $1.1 million for  six projects; and New York received $520,000 for seven projects along with about $10 million in loans for two projects.