Clean energy projects invest almost $179,000 in Floyd and surrounding counties

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday that it is funding 586 projects to expand access to clean energy systems and increase the availability of domestic biofuels.

USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack said the department is providing nearly $180 million through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), with funding from the federal Inflation Reduction Act.

The projects will create new market opportunities and jobs for American small businesses, farmers, ranchers, forest landowners and agricultural producers in 42 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vilsack said.

In the Floyd County area, $178,916 in grants announced Friday from the REAP Renewable and Energy Efficiency Program went to:

• Ben McCandless Farms LLC, Floyd County – $99,375 to help McCandless Farms install a 101 kilowatt solar array on its grain farm near Powersville. This project is expected to generate $16,618 in income from the sale of energy and generate 138,810 kilowatt hours, which is enough electricity to power 12 homes.
• Kathy Recker, Chickasaw County – $23,397 to help Recker install a 20.5 kilowatt solar array at her corn production farming operation near Alta Vista. This project is expected to generate 22,754 kilowatt hours worth $2,417 per year, which is enough energy to power two homes.
• Darrell Souhrada, Howard County – $20,210 to help Souhrada install a 27.6 kilowatt solar project at his oilseed and grain production operation near Lime Springs. This project is expected to generate 32,799 kilowatt hours worth $4,742 per year, which is enough energy to power three homes.
• Dallas Linkmeyer, Howard County – $35,934 to help Linkenmeyer install a 34.2 kilowatt ground-mounted solar array at his hog and pig production farm operation near Riceville. This project will realize $5,672 per year in savings and will replace 35,462 kilowatt hours per year (100 percent of previous business use), which is enough electricity to power four homes.

Vilsack said, “By expanding access to homegrown biofuels and clean energy systems, we are making long-lasting investments that will strengthen our energy independence, address the impacts of climate change and create new market opportunities and revenue streams for American producers while bringing good-paying jobs to rural communities.”

To date, USDA has invested more than $1.3 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act for 8,012 clean energy projects through REAP, and more than $287 million in 345 projects through HBIIP that increase the availability of domestic biofuels across the country.

The total amount of grants announced for Iowa on Friday were $7.91 million, with $3.35 million in REAP grants and $4.56 million in HBIIP grants.

As part of the announcement, USDA awarded a total of $120 million in REAP grants for 516 projects in 39 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to help farmers and small business owners make energy efficiency improvements and expand their use of wind, solar and other forms of clean energy.

Business owners are also receiving nearly $60 million through HBIIP funding to expand access to domestic biofuels in 24 states including Iowa, through grants to fueling station and distribution facility owners.

These investments help business owners install and upgrade infrastructure such as fuel pumps, dispensers and storage tanks, the announcement said.

For example, in Iowa, Morning Star Station LLC will use a $398,000 grant to install two E15 dispensers, one B20 dispenser, one ethanol storage tank and one biodiesel storage tank at a fueling station in Worthington. This project is expected to increase the amount of biofuel sold by more than 116,000 gallons per year.