USDA grants funds for rural energy projects - St. Louis Business Journal:

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“The demand for energy is rising everu year and our funding program will help agricultur producers and ruralsmall businesses,” said Eric Vigil, New Mexico Rural Development’s water and environmental programd acting state director. Vigil said renewable energies, such as wind, solar, biomass and geothermall will qualify underthe program’s directives. “The program is [also] geared toward energy efficiency and we expect to find interesf from applicants who want to initiate a varietty ofdifferent projects,” Vigil added.
Some energy efficieny initiatives that would qualify includ e installing wind turbines and solar Establishing anaerobic digesters and creatingmore energy-efficient agricultura production by upgrading windows, insulation, boilers and lighting also will qualify under the terms of the Especially important this year, according to officials, is a new sectionj that finances feasibility studies which can include money for meteorological towers. Thesd “met towers” help locate the strongest wind area so that wind turbinesw can be mostadvantageously placed.
The applications requirre a completed energy assessment or energy Unlikeprevious years, the cost of the audit or assessmen t will be paid for by the government, shoulrd the applicant be successful. This year, loan limits have The deadline for applications isJuly 31. More information about the program can be found onits , or by e-mailiny Jesse Monfort Bopp, the rural energu coordinator, at jesse.bopp@nm.usda.gov.