Today, September 24, 2009, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the USDA is providing $62.5 million for renewable energy and energy efficiency loans and grants. The money will fund 705 projects in 45 states and Puerto Rico. The money is “under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), an important initiative to help rebuild and revitalize rural America,” the department stated in their news release.Secretary Vilsack stated in the release: "President Obama and I are committed to helping rural businesses become more energy efficient - it's good for the economy, good for the environment, and good for the workers and customers who depend on the goods and services these businesses provide . . . While the REAP grants will continue to provide an important jump start to a clean, renewable energy future, Congress must act to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation to create the green jobs our economy needs and get our nation on the path to being truly energy independent."
Yet, the climate change legislation has been met with some resistance from the agriculture community as well as from the “Rust Belt.” Much of the resistance has been voiced by Democratic senators, notably new Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln (AR), who believes at this point farmers would be better off if Congress focused solely on renewable energy legislation to create green jobs. But, while Congress works to figure out what to do with climate change and renewable energy, the recipients of these funds can move ahead with their projects.
To see the USDA news release and a sample of the projects that received funding, as well as a complete list of the recipients, click here.
Posted: 09/24/09
