Southwest Georgia communities awarded Rural Energy grants
File Photo: Alan Mauldin
From staff reports
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LEESBURG – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr. D-Ga., the ranking Democrat leading the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, announced this week three businesses in Calhoun, Lee and Thomas counties have been awarded a total of $874,727 in grants to small businesses through the Rural Energy for America Program.
REAP allows the federal government to directly work with farmers and local businesses to support projects that make them more energy self-sufficient, which reduces their energy bills and decreases the load on local energy grids. The announced grants will be used to purchase and install solar arrays totaling over 860 kilowatts, which is estimated to help these businesses save over $79,000 a year in energy costs.
“REAP continues to be invaluable to our communities, thanks in large part to the funds provided through the Inflation Reduction Act,” Bishop said in a news release. “Businesses are reducing operational costs using clean energy and supporting Georgia clean energy companies. Not only are these projects helping businesses, they are also making communities more resilient by strengthening local electric grids.
“As a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, I have and will continue to fight for robust funding for rural development programs like REAP, which are improving the quality of life for Americans across the country, including right here in southwest Georgia.”
“We decided to install solar after finding out about the REAP grant,” Mark Roberts, co-owner of Finish Line Storage in Leesburg, said. “Power is one of the main costs of a climate-controlled storage facility. We are happy to take some of the burden off the grid.
“We appreciate the government opening doors for people like us that could not afford to go solar without a program like REAP.”
“As a majority-woman-owned company, Storm Services Texas is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a federal grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program,” Ann Cook, an owner of Storm Services Texas LLC, which is headquartered in Thomasville, said. “This grant will empower us to finance a solar project in Adel.
“Being rooted in Georgia ourselves, we are particularly proud to contribute to the local community and economy by creating job opportunities for Georgia residents. This endeavor not only benefits our company but also enriches the state as a whole. We express our gratitude for this invaluable opportunity to make a positive impact through sustainable energy initiatives.”
“We at Conner Insurance Agency greatly appreciate Rep. Sanford Bishop’s leadership bringing us closer to a sustainable future through the Rural Energy for America Program,” Ben Conner of Conner Insurance, located in Arlington, said. “This program is not just for sustainability, but offers us resilience. Conner Insurance Agency is a local independent insurance agency serving clients throughout the southeastern United States. When disaster strikes, we need to be open and present to help serve our community.
“Before this investment, storm damage to the electrical grid would cripple our business for days and weeks. This solar system, combined with already installed employee EV charge stations and backup satellite internet will allow our office autonomy to remain open to immediately aid our clients when they need us most.”
The Conner Insurance Agency project will install a 15.2 kW system with 15.4 kW battery storage to produce 125% of the business’s current electrical demand and will be installed by a local southwest Georgia company using solar cells and batteries manufactured in North America.
USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program is currently accepting competitive applications for its March 31 deadline and will re-open applications quarterly through September 2024. Go to https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/energy-programs/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency-improvement-guaranteed-loans.
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