Sec. Vilsack Announces Funding To Reduce Energy Costs for Rural Small Businesses

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is funding projects to harness wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric power to reduce energy costs for farms and small business across rural America.  Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Doug O’Brien made the announcement on the Secretary’s behalf during his address here today at the Rural Young Entrepreneur Summit (YES).

   “The Obama Administration is assisting small businesses, including farmers and ranchers, as they work to reduce their energy costs,” O’Brien said.  “When energy costs are reduced, American rural businesses become more competitive, allowing them to expand and create jobs.”  

   One of the projects announced today will assist Hawkeye Tri-County Electric Cooperative in Cresco, Iowa, to install a geothermal heating and cooling system in its headquarters building.  Coon Valley Turkeys, LLC, in Lake View, Iowa, is receiving funding to install a wind turbine to offset the cost of electricity.  Gary Larson of Underwood, Iowa, will receive assistance to install a geothermal heating and cooling system in a shop that services his farming operations.

   The YES event is sponsored by USDA Rural Development, the Community Vitality Center (CVC), Iowa State University’s Extension, Outreach Community and Economic Development  along with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

   Below is a complete list of funding recipients announced today:

Alaska   
• Sea Lion Corp.    $50,000 grant  Wind project

Colorado    
• Avalanche Ranch    $300,000 grant  Geothermal generation

Connecticut
• Putnam Green Power   $275,000 grant  Hydro electric

Iowa   
• Blake Organic Farms   $5,230 grant   Feed Mill energy project
• CPU Property Management  $12,667 grant  Geothermal
• Don Johnston Construction  $15,937 grant  Wind generation
• E-4 Sons Company    $7,171 grant   Geothermal
• Energique, Inc     $20,000 grant  Geothermal
• Heritage Wood Products  $15,610 grant  Geothermal
• John Oliver     $18,065 grant  Wind
• Kevin Eisenman    $11,849 grant  Geothermal
• MJF Roadhouse    $7,607 grant   Geothermal
• Rick Ryan     $15,849 grant  Geothermal
• Coon Valley Turkeys   $50,000 grant  Wind
• Dennis Smith, Inc.    $29,694 grant, $59,388 loan, Geothermal
• Gary Larson     $49,727 grant  Geothermal
• Hawkeye Tri-County Electric Cooperative  $50,000 grant  Geothermal
• Thomas Rabel     $39,949 grant  Wind-Solar
• Thorsen Brothers, Inc.   $39,703 grant  Wind
• Crystal 28 LLP    $36,750 grant  Wind

Kansas   
• Cornwell Farms    $14,262 grant  Geothermal
• BCP Centerwind    $50,000 grant  Wind
• BCP Eastwind     $50,000 grant  Wind
• BCP Westwind    $50,000 grant  Wind
• Pestinger Beverage Co.   $19,750 grant  Wind

Maryland   
• Iager Brothers     $78,800 grant  Solar electric

Massachusetts  
• Mill Valley Associates   $89,636 grant  Solar electric

Michigan   
• Brad Hagen     $17,002 grant  Geothermal
• Jade       $20,000 grant  Solar, geothermal
• Reinbold Organic Farms  $20,000 grant  Geothermal
• Meadowridge Inc.    $46,377 grant  Greenhouse efficiency
• Lonnie Irion     $35,724 grant  Solar, Geothermal
• William Ankley    $30,000 grant  Solar electric

Minnesota 
• Byron Klaassen    $9,260 grant   Geothermal
• Federated Rural Electric  $12,165 grant  Geothermal
• Gary Carlson     $9,767 grant   Geothermal
• Hammer Ag Sales    $6,565 grant   Geothermal
• James Behrends    $11,526 grant  Geothermal
• Jared Ahlers     $6,500 grant   Geothermal
• Jonathan Wenzel    $10,085 grant  Geothermal
• Nobles Cooperative Elec.   $14,880 grant  Geothermal
• Thomas Olsem    $6,332 grant   Geothermal
• Willis Sandbulte    $4,956 grant   Geothermal