Investments Will Make Rural Communities More Energy Independent and Resilient

BOZEMAN, Mont., Dec. 03, 2021 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Montana Acting State Director Jake Ceartin today announced that USDA is investing over $388 thousand to reduce the impacts of climate change on rural communities throughout Montana.

“This year, we’ve experienced a constantly changing climate, including devastating droughts and now an unseasonably warm winter,” remarked Ceartin. “Initiatives, such as the Rural Energy for America Program, are important because our funding allows small business throughout Montana to find viable ways to lower their energy usage and reduce their carbon footprints.”

Background: 

As part of this announcement, USDA is making investments in five programs specifically designed to help people and businesses in rural areas nationwide. These programs include Community Facilities Disaster Grants, Electric Loan Program, Rural Energy for America Program, Rural Energy Savings Program, and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.

These investments will help build and improve rural electric infrastructure and connect residents to affordable and dependable power. They will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. They will also help transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities offer higher ethanol and biodiesel blends to customers by sharing the costs to install fuel pumps, equipment and infrastructure.

A complete list of national awards and recipients may be found here.

Montana Awards:

In Montana, grant allocations through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) include:

• $3,927 to FireRoot Distillery, LLC to purchase and install a 14,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) solar system for their family-run distilling company in Florence;
• $5,916 to Donna Krieger-Pearson to purchase and install a 12,700 kWh solar array for Mountain Mortgage Company in Darby;
• $6,075 to Nash Realty, LLC to purchase and install a 10.50 kWh solar array for their Bozeman-based business;
• $9,650 to The Lund Company, LLC to purchase and install a 20.16 kWh solar array for a new building in Belgrade;
• $10,116 to Kathleen Hochstrat, who is a grain producer and rancher, to purchase and install a 19.5 kWh solar array for her property in White Sulphur Springs;
• $10,554 to Eric Harris, who is the sole operator of a family-owned farm and ranch, to purchase and install a 310 kWh solar array system in Fairfield;
• $11,363 to Glacier Guides to purchase and install a 31.94 kWh rooftop solar array for their business, which is located at the edge of Glacier National Park;
• $11,615 to Lake Camp, LLC to fund energy efficiency improvements for Pink Bench Distilling in Troy;
• $16,797 to Polebridge Mercantile & Bakery, LLC to purchase and install a solar hot water system to support their off-grid commercial kitchen in Polebridge;
• $17,218 to DPS Electronics, Inc. to make energy efficiency improvements to their infrastructure in Bozeman;
• $19,875 to Sather Ranch to purchase and install three 10 kWh microinverters for their farm and ranch in Opheim, near Glasgow;
• $19,997 to Double K Ranch, LLC to purchase and install a 29,100 kWh solar system on their family-owned cattle ranch in Darby;
• $19,999 to 232 Park Street, LLC to purchase and install a 24.65 kWh solar array for the Wonderland Café and Lodge in Gardner;
• $29,890 to Pioneer Meats, Inc. to purchase and install a 58.5 kWh solar array for their meat-processing business in Big Timber;
• $40,089 to Maric Properties North, LLC to purchase and install a 52.7 kWh solar array for the Travelodge by Wyndham hotel in Gardiner;
• $49,240 to Sun Mountain Lumber, Inc. to fund energy efficiency improvements for their family-owned lumber company in Deer Lodge; and
• $105,487 to CIP Housing Access Partners to purchase and install a 226.38 kWh solar array for four employee and workforce housing buildings in Big Sky.

REAP in Action:

Click here to read how Pink Bench Distilling used the Rural Energy for America program to fund energy efficiency improvements, which included insulation, double pane windows, exterior doors and an air source heat pump for their new business.

Click here to see how Sun Mountain Lumber successfully integrated REAP funding which improved their operations.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/mt.. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

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