USDA grants fund Floyd County area rural clean energy projects

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Three Floyd County farms and businesses will receive almost $270,000 for projects designed to lower costs for agricultural producers and rural small business owners and increase the use of renewable energy, with funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

Floyd and area counties will share more than $1.25 million in the project funding announced recently by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Theresa Greenfield, USDA Rural Development state director in Iowa, announced that the USDA is investing $18.37 million in 195 projects across the state.

The projects “shine a light on how to fulfill the promise of reliable, renewable clean energy for Iowans,” said Greenfield. “USDA is delivering on the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to increasing access to clean sources of energy and lowering costs for ag producers, small businesses and families in Iowa.”

The Floyd County projects are going to:

• Larry Bortz – $39,800 – to help install a 29.2 kW solar array at his grain production farm operation near Rudd, providing 94% of previous business use.

• Alvin Marth – $129,600 – to install two 57 kW solar arrays for Marths oilseed and grain combination farm near Rockford, providing 79% of previous business use.

• Brady Reicks, dba Eastern Holdings LLC – $99,500 – to install a 110 kW solar array at non-residential building leasing business in Charles City, realizing $25,095 per year in generation revenue and providing 88% of previous business use.

Since 2021, USDA has invested more than $2.7 billion through REAP in 9,901 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements, the USDA said. Almost 7,000 of these projects were funded by over $1 billion provided by the Inflation Reduction Act.

REAP enables agricultural producers and rural small business owners to expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements.

“These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses and address climate change while lowering energy costs for American families,” according to information from the USDA.

Other area projects include:

• Marzen Family Farms LLC – $33,800 –  install a 29.4 kW solar array at this corn production farm operation near Stacyville, providing 100% of previous use.

• Galen Barker – $123,347 – help this grain production farmer near Little Cedar install a new energy-efficient grain drying system, expected to save $15,739 per year.

• Byrnes Custom Ops LLC – $59,710 – install a 46 kW solar array at its hog and pig production farm operation near Riceville, providing 40% of previous use.

• St. Ansgar State Bank – $20,000 – install a 44.9 kW solar array at commercial banking operation in St. Ansgar, providing 99% of previous use.

• Steve Jensen – $22,923 – install a more energy-efficient grain moving system on grain production farm operation near Osage; expected to save $6,439 in energy costs per year.

• Groh Hein LLC – $29,000 – help livestock production operation in Osage install a 17.3 kW solar array at its business facility, providing 100% of previous usage.

• Pantheon Farms – $69,249 – help install a 77 kW solar array at this hog and pig production farm operation near Wellsburg, expected to generate 108,646 kW hours worth $16,689 per year.

• K. Poppens LLC – $48,208 – help install a 36.8 kW ground-mounted solar array system for this hog production farm near Parkersburg, providing 100% of previous business use.

• William Nicholas – $162,601 – install a new grain dryer at this grain production operation near Rockwell, providing 48% of previous business use.

• Research Farms LLC – $102,300 – help this grain and oilseed agricultural producer install a 93.6 kW solar array near Rockwell, providing 100% of previous business use.

• CUV Solar LLC – $314,250 – help install solar array projects at this energy generation businesses in Mason City realizing $52,782 per year and will generating 277,798 kW hours per year.

• Glen’s Tire Service Inc. – $30,748 – help install a 25.2 kW solar array at this tire sales and maintenance business in Clear Lake, replacing 87% of previous business use.

Altogether, the area projects are expected to reduce grid energy usage by enough electricity to power 185 homes, the USDA estimated.