USDA offering renewable energy grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting $220.9 million in loan and grant applications within the USDA's Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program.

Loan guarantees and grants are available to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to buy and install renewable energy systems or to make energy-efficiency improvements.

Eligible applicants may seek loan guarantees to cover up to half of a project's cost, not to exceed $10 million. Grants are available for up to one-fourth of a project's cost, up to $250,000 for energy-efficiency improvements and $500,000 for renewable energy systems.

Investments since 2001 include ethanol, biodiesel, wind, solar, geothermal, methane gas recovery systems and biomass projects.

Details are available at www.rurdev.usda.gov or by calling Debra Meyer at 801-534-4330.