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U.S. Department of Agriculture
TOPEKA, Kan. — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Kansas Rural Development Director Christy Davis announced Friday that USDA will help farmers and small businesses expand access to clean energy and lower energy bills through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Today, Rural Development is investing $1,789,170 in grants that will support 15 clean energy projects across Kansas.
“The USDA is partnering with people in rural Kansas to expand access to clean energy,” Davis said. “We are working hard, supporting our small businesses and farmers as they create jobs for their communities.”
Hutch Post area projects include:
A $178,348 grant will help purchase and install a 99 kilowatt solar array for B&B Hydraulics Inc. of Hutchinson. The project is estimated to generate 156,168 kilowatt hours and replace 100 percent of the facility's annual energy usage.
A $177,486 grant will help purchase and install a 150 kilowatt solar array for Sales Data Inc., a computer software company in Hutchinson. The project is estimated to replace 216,823 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power 20 homes.
A $30,857 grant will help purchase and install a 25.53 kilowatt solar array for King Solar Inc. of Yoder. The project is estimated to generate 37,587 kilowatt hours per year, enough energy to power three homes.
A $31,344 grant will help purchase and install a 20 kilowatt solar array for Brentan Yost, a swine producer located near Newton. The project will produce 31,026 kilowatt hours and replace 85 percent of the facility's annual energy usage.
A $57,927 grant will help purchase and install a 42.1 kilowatt solar array for Edward Koehn, a poultry producer near Halstead. The project is estimated to produce 64,113 kilowatt hours annually, enough energy to power six homes.
A $37,477 grant will help purchase and install irrigation equipment for Schmidt Land LLC, a corn grower in Inman. The project is estimated to save 110,791 kilowatts per year, enough energy to power ten homes.
A $26,652 grant will help purchase and install irrigation equipment for Ruby Goering Trust, a corn farm in Inman. The project is estimated to save 123,249 kilowatt per year, enough energy to power 11 homes.
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