USDA Grants $500,000 To Oklahoma’s Rural Businesses For The Construction Of Renewable Energy Projects

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USDA Grants $500,000 To Oklahoma's Rural Businesses For The Construction Of Renewable Energy Projects

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be awarding grants to six rural Oklahoma businesses and agriculture producers, giving them the resources they need to grow and succeed!

The American government just revealed its plans to grant Oklahoma businesses over $500,000 of funds to widen access to renewable energy sources in rural areas. This move is part of a larger environmental initiative to decrease climate change effects.

The USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program is offering federal funding to at least six small agribusinesses in rural areas, which will be used to construct renewable energy systems and enhance the efficiency of their current operations. This cost-saving initiative should drastically reduce energy expenses that have burdened these businesses for years.

In the announcement, Oklahoma’s rural development director, Kenneth Corn, voiced his elation for the federal award money. Corn emphasized President Biden’s unwavering commitment to Oklahoma, where he has provided funding and resources that are essential for economic development and climate protection in rural and tribal areas. This investment is a testament to his dedication to ensuring our state experiences the fullest of its prosperity while also securing healthier climates.

The USDA announced that the $500,000 would be allocated as follows:

  1. Woodshed at Buffalo Ranch, LLC recently received a $142,500 grant that will be used to install and set up a 291 kW solar array. This new project produces 467,181 kWh annually – enough energy for 43 households! Woodshed is an Afton-based truck station and convenience store owned by locals.
  2. Thanks to a grant of $125,000, Lake Holdings LLC can purchase and install energy-efficient improvements in 32 broiler houses in Jay, Oklahoma. These optimizations are estimated to reduce the company’s total energy consumption by 53%, saving up some 199,333-kilowatt hours (kWh) per year!
  3. Woodshed of Monkey Island LLC, a rural small business in Afton, Oklahoma, will utilize its $78,731 grant to install a 165.75 kilowatt (kW) solar array. The project is expected to generate an immense 165,888 kilowatt hours (kWh), accounting for more than half of the company’s energy needs – enough electricity to power an estimated 15 homes!
  4. Clink’s Inc., a locally owned and operated rural small business, has been selected to receive $70,300 for installing Energy Efficient Refrigeration Systems in two grocery stores in Comanche and Hobart, Oklahoma. This project is anticipated to lead to up to 54% energy savings with 155,929 kilowatt hours (kWh) replaced! Clink’s Inc.’s commitment to sustainability will reduce its expenses and positively impact the environment.
  5. Stillwater, Oklahoma’s locally-owned business, Ultimate Air Stillwater LLC, is utilizing a $34,212 grant to purchase and install an 85 kilowatt (kW) solar array. This project will generate 119,946 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually – more than enough energy to power 11 homes! Plus, it covers 87 percent of the company’s total electricity consumption.
  6. Richardson Rentals, a rural small business located in Weatherford, Oklahoma, is thrilled to announce that they will utilize the $27,238 grant to install a new Geothermal system. This sustainable energy source aims to substitute 172,619-kilowatt hours (kWh) each year – equivalent to powering 15 homes! That’s 76 percent of Richardson Rental’s total energy usage.
  7. Richardson Rentals, a rural small business in Weatherford, Oklahoma, is also awarded a grant of $22,481 which will be utilized to buy and install energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the store. This project promises to considerably reduce the company’s total electricity consumption – up until now, totaling 47,300-kilowatt hours (kWh) each year – which constitutes 20 percent of the company’s total energy consumption!

The USDA recently declared that a total of $285 million had been allocated to rural renewable energy infrastructure in Oklahoma and 46 other states through their Rural Energy for America program. This exciting development provides much-needed assistance to these areas as they look toward the future of clean energy investments.

To aid small rural businesses and agricultural producers, the USDA has made an additional $300 million available under its Rural Energy for America Program. Of this total, a staggering $250 million will be dispersed through the Inflation Reduction Act grant program. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity – applications are accepted until March 31st of, 2023!

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