The Rural Energy for American Program (REAP) from USDA Rural Development is a funding opportunity for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs for farmers and rural small businesses.
We recently held a webinar to walk participants through the 2014 USDA Rural Development REAP funding cycle and example project ideas. The webinar recording and PowerPoint slides are available here for you to review.
In the webinar:
- Ron Omann, the State Energy & Environmental Coordinator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development reviews key changes to REAP, eligibility to seek funds, filling out the application, and how projects are scored.
- Fritz Ebinger, the Energy Program Manager of The Minnesota Project, a partner of the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), provides several energy efficiency and renewable energy project ideas that have been implemented at small businesses and farms in rural Minnesota.
Project ideas: There are currently two programs offered through the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) that would be a great fit for REAP funding.
- LED Canopy Lighting for Service Stations The Light Up Your Station & Save CERTified Campaign offers an opportunity to reduce your canopy energy costs up to 75%, create a brighter and more attractive station, reduce your maintenance costs, and strengthen your business. The program from CERTs will help you participate in a bulk buy to get lower prices, access quality canopy lighting products, and reduce upgrade costs further with utility rebates.
- LED Lighting for Turkey Barns The Gobble Up Savings CERTified Campaign offers CERTs is helping turkey farmers reduce energy use by upgrading to LED lighting in their barns. Switching from high pressure sodium or incandescent lighting to LED lighting presents the greatest savings opportunity. CERTs will help you navigate your funding options to get LED lighting in your barns.
Click play below to watch the webinar:
Are you eligible? REAP is for all farmers, and for rural small businesses that are located in communities with populations less than 50,000. While businesses located in Rochester, Duluth, Mankato, St. Cloud, and the core of the Twin Cities wouldn’t be eligible, nearly the entire rest of the state is eligible (including many Metro suburbs and exurbs). Click here to see a map of rural ineligibility. Then, click on the link above the REAP program (among others), and then click Accept on the Property Eligibility Disclaimer. You’ll be routed to a map where you can enter an exact address to see clearly whether it sits in an ineligible area for REAP.
