“Boosting Clean Energy in Kansas: USDA Rural Development Funds 17 Projects for Farms and Small Businesses” 

CLEAN ENERGY …PUBLISHED ON November 22, 2024The REAP program helps agricultural producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements. (Photo by Waldemar on Unsplash)TOPEKA, Kan. – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Kansas Director Christy Davis has announced that Rural Development is investing $2,665,042 to lower costs, expand clean energy production and strengthen Kansas farms and small businesses.USDA is making the investments through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) which 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.“Rural Development is ensuring farmers and rural small business owners have the resources they need for the future,” Davis said. “These investments will help Kansas communities with lower costs and better availability of clean energy.”The announcement is part of a larger national announcement that includes projects in 39 other states. The details of the Kansas Projects are:A $42,500 grant will help install a 15 kilowatt (kW) wind turbine for Mark Eitel, an ag producer in Lane County. This project is expected to generate 40,464 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, enough energy to power three homes. A $54,750 grant will help S&K Agronomy, of Hiawatha, purchase and install a 15 kW wind turbine. The project is expected to generate 38,831 kWh of electricity per year, which is all the company’s electricity use and enough to power three homes. A $57,250 grant will help Junior Nelson Farms Inc. purchase and install a 15 kW wind turbine to support their agricultural operation in Troy. The project is expected to generate 33,593 kWh of electricity per year, which is all the company’s electricity use and enough to power three homes. A $57,250 grant will help Johnson Farms Inc. purchase and install a 15 kW wind turbine to support their agricultural operation in Bendena. The project is expected to replace 35,804 kWh of electricity per year, which is all the company’s electricity use and enough to power three homes. A $57,250 grant will help Gerald Boos purchase and install a 15 kW wind turbine to support his agricultural operation in Denton. The project is expected to generate 32,066 kWh of electricity per year, which is all the company’s electricity use and enough to power three homes. A $77,047 grant will help update refrigeration equipment for Kiers Thriftway, a grocery store in Clay Center. The project will save 74,076 kWh annually and lower the business’s annual energy usage by 13 percent. A $60,359 grant will help purchase and install a 27.5 kW solar array for Business Logistics LLC, a lessor of nonresidential buildings