By Andi Anderson
Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, the USDA Illinois State Director, has announced a $2.8 million investment in renewable energy projects to benefit farms and rural small businesses. This initiative aims to lower energy bills, create jobs, and enhance competitiveness for Illinois agricultural producers.
Dirksen Londrigan emphasizes the importance of ensuring that Illinois farmers and small businesses benefit from the clean energy economy. The grants provided through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) expand access to renewable energy infrastructure, potentially saving rural entities hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
The awarded projects, totaling over $2.8 million, will have a significant impact on 16 initiatives across Illinois. Athletes in Action LLC, for instance, received a $618,750 investment to install a 550-kW solar array, saving over $82,800 in annual energy costs and replacing 776,000 kW hours per year—equivalent to powering 71 homes.
HHM Enterprises LLC secured a $426,251 grant to install a solar array for their Mt Vernon warehouse business, leading to an annual energy cost saving of over $138,000 and replacing energy equivalent to powering 77 homes. Livingstone and Pipe and Tube Inc received a $242,190 investment for a 258-kW solar array, saving them over $45,200 annually and producing enough energy to power 30 homes.
These investments represent a win-win, lowering energy costs and generating additional income through clean energy for the benefit of rural communities in Illinois.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-pra-chid
Categories: Illinois, General