Feds award $120K to 13 Maine clean energy projects
USDA Rural Development is awarding nearly $120,000 to 13 Maine businesses for clean energy projects that include solar power systems, variable-frequency ventilation fans and geothermal heat pumps.
The Maine office of USDA Rural Development reported that the funding is part of an annual allocation of grants for energy efficiency improvements or installation of alternative energy systems.
The following Maine businesses received $119,700 through the USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program:
Bar Harbor Community Farm LLC, Bar Harbor, $6,868 – Funds will be used to buy and install a roof-mounted 8.42 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system on a seedling greenhouse. Generated energy will meet the business’ demands and support year-round production and marketing.
Bruce Buck (Buck Farms), Mapleton, $5,001 – Funds will be used to install a biomass boiler using wood pellets to heat a malting facility previously used as an unheated potato storage facility. The boiler will produce 46,893 kWh of energy, which will allow for temperature control and hot water. This is crucial to processing this small farmer’s grain crops.
County Energy Solutions LLC, Fort Fairfield, $6,792 – Funds will be used to install a ground-mounted, dual-axis solar tracking photovoltaic system at the facility. This is a 6,840 watt system, generating 11,584 kW annually.
F.W. Thurston Co. Inc., Bernard, $11,738 – Funds will be used to install a roof-mounted 12.93 kW solar photovoltaic system producing 16,173 kWh of energy annually. This will replace 18 percent of the business’ energy demands.
Frederic Flewelling, Crouseville, $4,499 – Funds will be used to install variable-frequency drives on potato storage ventilation fans. Constant operation at a reduced speed instead of intermittent full speed will save 22,161 kWh of electricity annually.
JG SL Partners LLC, Freeport, $5,590 – Funds will be used to install a roof-mounted 6.89 kW solar photovoltaic system producing 8,370 kWh annually. This will replace 38 percent of the business’ energy demands.
North Country Rivers Inc., Bingham, $7,772 – Funds will be used to install a high-efficiency, ductless, air source heat pump to provide supplemental heating and cooling, saving more than 1,819 kWh of energy per year.
Paris Auto Barn LLC, South Paris, $12,397 – Funds will be used to install a roof-mounted 13.5 kW solar photovoltaic system that is expected to meet all of the company’s energy demands by producing 15,651 kWh annually.
Solonely Acres LLC, Solon, $19,980 – Funds will be used to install a 5-ton geothermal heat pump system and a 16.83 kW solar photovoltaic system to a commercial storage building. This system will generate more than 57,000 kWh of clean energy, meeting this business’ energy demands.
Thompson Cottages Inc., New Harbor, $3,600 – Funds will be used to buy and install a 4 kW solar photovoltaic system on two seasonal cottages. This system will meet the energy demands of these cottages, produce 5,258 kWh annually and contribute to the long-term goal of all the cottages being powered by solar alone.
TMDE Calibration Labs Inc., Richmond, $18,750 – Funds will be used to buy and install a roof-mounted 25 kW solar photovoltaic system that is expected to meet all of the business’ energy demands by producing 33,565 kWh annually.
Keena Tracy, Lisbon Falls, $4,554 – Funds will be used to buy and install a 6.12 kW solar photovoltaic roof-mounted system. This system will produce 8,205 kWh annually, meeting this business’ energy demands.
Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections, Freeport, $12,159 – Funds will be used to buy and install a roof-mounted 15.4 kW solar photovoltaic system that is expected to replace more than 13 percent of the business’ energy demands. This system will produce 20,805 kWh annually.
REAP was created by the 2002 Farm Bill and was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The new Census of Agriculture shows the number of farms utilizing renewable energy production has doubled in the last five years.
Since 2009, USDA has awarded $545 million to support more than 8,800 REAP projects nationwide. This includes $361 million in grants and loans for almost 2,900 renewable energy systems. When fully operational, these projects are estimated to generate and save 7.3 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually – enough to power more than 660,000 homes for a year. For the remaining 5,900 projects, USDA provided $184 million to help rural small businesses and agricultural producers make energy efficiency improvements such as lighting; heating, ventilation and cooling; irrigation; insulation and motor replacements.
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