Renewable energy projects land $427K in federal grants
COURTESY/ NAI THE DUNHAM GROUP
Saco River Dyehouse's headquarters in Saco, as part of a $140,295 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for America Program, the textile dyeing equipment at the dyehouse will be replaced.
The renewable energy and efficiency projects of six rural Maine businesses and farms came out on the winning end of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program with $427,000 in funding.
“Lowering energy costs helps businesses improve their bottom line and create jobs,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. “USDA’s investments will help rural communities and businesses remain profitable in an increasingly competitive global economy and will help ensure U.S. energy independence. This is beneficial not just to the rural businesses receiving these grants, but to the national economy as well.”
The six Maine businesses and farms that have been selected to receive the funding are:
Maine Textiles International LLC, Biddeford, will receive $140,295 to purchase and replace textile dyeing equipment at the Saco River Dyehouse, which is the only organically certified yarn dyeing operation in the country. The new equipment will reduce annual energy consumption by approximately 1,800 MMBTU or 85%. The energy saved is enough to power 48 homes.
Double G Farms Inc., Blaine, will receive $151,271 for the purchase and installation of a 219.2 kW solar PV ground-mounted system to benefit the farm. This project will realize $54,462 per year in savings and will replace 382,461 kWh (96%) per year, or enough energy to power 35 homes.
S. P. Real Estate LLC, Fort Kent, will receive $49,875 for the purchase and installation of a 58.5 kW solar PV tracker system. This project will realize $17,047 annually in savings and will replace 108,317 kWh (35%) per year, or enough energy to power approximately nine homes.
Bruce Stedman, d/b/a Little River Flower Farm, Buxton, will receive $42,226 for the purchase and installation of a 24 kW thin-film solar panel system integrated into the structure of a new greenhouse and for two new wood pellet boilers. The project will save $8,594 and produce 173,063 kWh per year, or enough energy to power 15 homes.
Robert Johanson d/b/a Goranson Farm, Dresden, will receive $17,696 for the purchase and installation of a 24.96 kW ground-mounted solar array. This project will realize $5,970 in savings and replace 46,359 kWh (100%) annually, or enough electricity to power four homes.
KAPH Inc., Eliot, will receive $25,637 to construct a 39.75 kW roof-mounted solar array for this commercial real estate business. The project will realize $5,681 annually in savings and will produce 38,627 kWh per year, enough energy to power three homes.
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments