(WTAQ-WLUK) — Millions of dollars in federal funds is aiming to lower energy costs and create jobs in rural Wisconsin communities.
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced their investment of over $24 million in 13 state projects through the Rural Energy for America Program.
Officials say 12 grants and one loan will allow 13 rural Wisconsin businesses to install renewable energy systems and/or become more energy efficient. Two of the recipients are from Northeast Wisconsin.
In Brown County, a $22,638,000 loan will help Tinedale Project, LLC develop and operate a dairy manure anaerobic digester. The digester is projected to capture 128,787MM British Thermal Units of bio-methane. The methane will be converted to renewable natural gas on site then transported through a local utility natural gas pipeline. The project is expected to create three jobs.
In Calumet County, a $91,553 grant will be used to help Fairway to Heaven LLC install a small solar electric array in Sherwood. The project is expected to save $3,105 each year.
The remainder of projects are located in Grant, Lafayette, Marathon, Marquette, Monroe, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Vernon and Vilas counties.
REAP enables agricultural producers and rural small business owners to expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses and address climate change while lowering energy costs for American families.
Since January 2021, USDA has invested more than $2.3 billion through REAP in nearly 8,000 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements, including over $66.7 million for more than 233 projects in Wisconsin.
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