US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley recently announced that the US Department of Agriculture is sending a total of more than $4.4 million in Rural Energy for American Program (REAP) grants to support 20 renewable energy projects in rural communities across the state.
The investments will be used to help farmers, ranchers and rural small business owners 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, generate new income and help create jobs in rural Oregon.
Since launching in 2008, the REAP program has proved essential to rural America by providing grants and loans to help agriculture producers and small business owners expand their use of wind, solar and other forms of clean energy.
Standing Tree Properties, LLC, of Williams will receive $50,672 to help it purchase and install a 19.44 kilowatt ground-mounted solar PV on their unused plot of land. The solar array will replace 72% of the business's energy use with renewable electricity, reducing its energy bill by $2,740 per year.
Wyden said this federal grant is critical to making a transition to clean energy accessible to communities that need affordable and sustainable utility options.
