King, Golden Announce More than $7 million in Federal Funding for Renewable Energy Investments in CD2 Farms and Small Businesses
WASHINGTON — Senator Angus King and Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today announced that the US Department of Agriculture has approved more than $7 million in funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency investments at 10 rural farms and small businesses in the 2nd Congressional District.
“Our small businesses and farms are pillars of our rural communities,” Golden and King said. “These investments will create jobs, expand clean energy, and increase savings for Maine people. We are proud to have voted for the Inflation Reduction Act which provided more than $2 billion for the Rural Energy for America Program that made this funding available to Mainers.”
The projects funded include:
- $5.89 million in federally guaranteed loans for Belfast PV LLC., to build a 3.2 Megawatt ground-mounted solar system.
- $260,600 in grants for WA Bean & Sons, a meatpacking plant in Bangor, to install a 204.4 kilowatt roof- and ground-mounted solar system.
- $233,300 in grants for Green Thumb in Fryeburg, a third-generation family farm, to build a highly energy efficient grain dryer, which will reduce energy consumed and create more than $28,000 in annual savings
- $184,600 in grants for Edenbrook Hotel in Bar Harbor, to install a 136 kilowatt roof-mounted solar system.
- $135,600 in grants for Tide Mill Organics Farm in Edmunds Township to install a 93.6 kilowatt roof-mounted solar system.
- $119,000 in grants for Brooklin Boat Yard to install an 86.4 kilowatt roof-mounted solar system.
- $77,000 in grants for Eye Center Northeast in Bangor to install a 54 kilowatt roof-mounted solar system.
- $65,000 in grants for Moorit Hill Farm in Troy to install a 40.95 kilowatt roof-mounted solar system.
- $64,000 in grants for Airline Brewing Company in Amherst to install a 40.8 kilowatt roof-mounted solar system.
- $32,700 in grants for Stonecrest Events Center in Waldo to install an 18.8 kilowatt roof-mounted solar system.
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.
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