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Source: USDA, 12/3/21 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom
Vilsack today announced the Department is investing $633 million to reduce the impacts of climate change (PDF, 394 KB) on
rural communities. With the enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and
as part of the broader Build Back Better agenda, the Biden-Harris
Administration has made investing in rural communities, creating good-paying
jobs and combatting the climate crisis top priorities.“Rural America is on the front lines of climate change, and our communities deserve investments that will strengthen all of our resilience,” Vilsack said. “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. With the Build Back Better agenda, USDA will be able to fund more and more critical projects like those announced today in the coming months and years.”
To see funding for NC projects, click here. Background: Vilsack highlighted 791 investments that USDA is making in
five programs specifically designed to help people and businesses in rural
areas. These programs include Community
Facilities Disaster Grants, Electric
Loan Program, Rural
Energy for America Program, Rural
Energy Savings Program, and the Higher
Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. The funding will help people in all 50 states and Puerto
Rico. It reflects the many ways USDA Rural Development helps rural residents,
businesses and communities address economic development, infrastructure and
social service needs. These investments will help build and improve rural electric
infrastructure and connect residents to affordable and dependable power. They
will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and
install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. They
will also help transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities
offer higher ethanol and biodiesel blends to customers by sharing the costs to
install fuel pumps, equipment and infrastructure. Secretary Vilsack made the announcement from Saubel’s Markets in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, which will receive a $103,413 USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant. With this funding, the small business will install solar panels on the roof of their family-owned grocery store that has been in business since the 1960s. This project is expected to save $30,852 per year and will replace 395,539 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 36 homes annually. As part of today’s announcement, Pennsylvania will receive more than $1 million for 22 projects across the state.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development
provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs
and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This
assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing;
community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and
high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more
information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery
subscriber page.
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